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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C50–C54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | 16th century | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Italian: 'Quiet Game'[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Italian Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonyms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TheGiuoco Piano (pronounced[ˈdʒwɔːkoˈpjaːno];Italian for 'Quiet Game')[1] is achess opening beginning with the moves:
"White aims to develop quickly – but so does Black. White can construct apawn centre but in unfavourable conditions a centre which cannot provide a basis for further active play."[4]
The name "Italian Game" is also commonly used;[5] however, that name is sometimes used instead to describe all openings starting 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, including 3...Nf6 (theTwo Knights Defence) and other less common replies.
The Giuoco Piano is assigned codes C50 to C54 in theEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings.
The Giuoco Piano is one of the oldest recorded openings. The Portuguese writerPedro Damiano played it at the beginning of the 16th century and the ItalianGreco played it at the beginning of the 17th century. The Giuoco Piano was popular through the 19th century, but modern refinements in defensive play have led most chess masters towards openings like theRuy Lopez that offer White greater chances for long-terminitiative.
In modern play,grandmasters have shown distinct preference for the slower and more strategicGiuoco Pianissimo (4.d3, or 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3).Anatoly Karpov used the Giuoco Pianissimo againstViktor Korchnoi twice in the 1981 World Championship match, with both games ending in adraw;[6][7]Garry Kasparov used it againstJoël Lautier at Linares 1994, resigning after 29 moves;[8]Vladimir Kramnik chose it againstTeimour Radjabov at Linares (2004);[9]Viswanathan Anand used it to defeatJon Hammer in 2010;[10]Magnus Carlsen used it againstHikaru Nakamura at London 2011, winning in 41 moves[11] andIan Nepomniachtchi used it against Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Championship match, losing in 49 moves.[12]
The main continuations on White's fourth move are:
Other continuations are:
White plays 4.c3 in preparation for the central advance 5.d4 (5.d3 transposes to theGiuoco Pianissimo; 5.0-0 enters the Albin Gambit, which can be accepted with 5...Nxe4 or declined, usually with 5...d6). The main reply 4...Nf6 was first analysed byGreco in the 17th century.
After 5...exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ White can play 7.Nc3, 7.Bd2, 7.Nbd2, or 7.Kf1!?. Alternatively, White can play 6.e5, recommended byEvgeny Sveshnikov.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |              | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
This line usually continues 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 (8...Nxc3 is also seen but inferior). Black picks up a free pawn but has a vulnerable king andkickable pieces. White can play 9.d5, sacrificing a pawn for development and the initiative, or simply recapture with 9.bxc3.
The most common continuation is 9...Bf6, with the main line continuing 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 h6! (13...0-0 14.Nxh7! has been analysed to a draw with best play, although Black has many opportunities to go wrong). This most often continues either 14.Bb5+ Bd7 or 14.Qe2, where after 14...hxg5 15.Re1 Be6! 16.dxe6 (White also can try 16.Qd2 c6! 17.dxe6 f6 18.Bd3 d5 19.Rg4 Qc7 20.h3 0-0-0 21.b4, attacking) 16...f6 17.Re3 c6 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 it is doubtful that White has sufficientcompensation for the sacrificed pawn, according toLarry Kaufman; 14.Qh5 0-0 15.Rae1 Ng6! (or 15...Nf5!) also favours Black.
Another possible continuation for White is 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4, followed by 11...0-0 12.Qxe4 (or 12.Qxc4) or 11...f5 12.Qxc4 d6.
An alternative for Black is 9...Ne5, with most common continuation being 10.bxc3 (10.Qe2 is also common) Nxc4 11.Qd4, followed by 11...0-0 12.Qxe4 (or 12.Qxc4) or 11...f5 12.Qxc4 d6.
If 9...Bxc3?! 10.Qb3 Bxa1?, White wins with 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5. Greco's game (probably analysis) continues 12...Ne7 13.Ne5 (13.Re1 and 13.Rxa1 also win) 13...d5 14.Qf3 Bf5 15.Be6 g6 16.Bh6+ Ke8 17.Bf7#.[13][14] Thistrap is well known, and Black can avoid it by playing 10...d5. For this reason, the Scottish masterJames Aitken proposed 10.Ba3!, which gives White the advantage. After 9.bxc3, best for Black is 9...d5! 10.cxb4 dxc4 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qa4+! Bd7 13.b5 0-0 14.Qxc4 Ng6!
If White does not want to gambitmaterial, 7.Bd2, Greco's move,[15] is a good alternative. The game could continue 7...Bxd2+ (Kaufman recommends 7...Nxe4!? 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5!? [10...Kf8 11.Qxb4+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 is safer, reaching an equalendgame] 11.Ne5+ Ke6! 12.Qxb4 c5!?) 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 (10...Na5 is an alternative, inviting a repetition of moves after 11.Qa4+ Nc6 [threatening 12...Nb6] 12.Qb3 Na5) 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 c6. In this position White has more freedom, but theisolated d-pawn can be a weakness. 7.Nbd2 is also a viable move for White, although this still only offers approximate equality. It has not been a popular choice among human players, but it seems to be recommended by computer engines.[16] 7.Kf1?! has been largely abandoned.[17]
White can also try 6.e5, a line favoured byEvgeny Sveshnikov,[18] when play usually continues 6...d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6, with approximateequality.
Additionally, White has agambit alternative in 6.0-0, whichGraham Burgess revived in the book101 Chess Opening Surprises; the critical line runs 6...Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4 9.Qe2 Qd3.
The seldom seen pawn thrust 6.b4 was played in the off-balance upset encounterFier–Mamedyarov, Chessable Masters 2023.[19] After 6...Bb6 7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 9.Qe2+ Be6 10.b5, Black offered the sacrifice 10...Nb4. White choose to accept the offer with 11.cxb4, allowing Black a pair ofconnectedpassed pawns for the piece. Accurate play was required to hold back the passers' advance. Play continued 11...Qxf6 12.0-0 0-0 13.a4 a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Bg5 Qf5 16.Bd2 Raa8 17.Bb4 Rfe8 18.a5 Qxb5 19.Qd2 c5. White countered with 20.Bc3, attempting to exchange his extra bishop for the dangerous d-pawn, seeking to regain equality. Black eventually converted his advantage, with the simplifying and consolidating exchanges 20...Bd8 21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Qd7 23.Nxe6 Qxe6.[20]
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  | 8 | |
| 7 |  |  | | | | | | | 7 | |
| 6 |  | | | | | | | | 6 | |
| 5 | | |  | | | | | | 5 | |
| 4 | | |  | |  | | | | 4 | |
| 3 | | | | | |  | | | 3 | |
| 2 | |  | | | | | | | 2 | |
| 1 |  | |  |  |  | | |  | 1 | |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
With 4.d3, White plays the Giuoco Pianissimo (Italian for 'Very Quiet Game', a name given byAdolf Anderssen).[21] White aims for a slow buildup, deferring thepush to d4 until it can be prepared. By avoiding an immediate confrontation in the centre, White prevents the early release oftension through exchanges and enters a positional maneuvering game. Black usually responds with 4...Nf6 (or 4...d6 and then 5...Nf6).
If White plays c3, the position can take some characteristics of theRuy Lopez if the bishop retreats to c2 via b3. This idea has been taken up by some grandmasters, such asAnish Giri, to avoid the drawishBerlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. White can also play b4 and a4, chasing the black bishop and staking outspace on thequeenside. Despite its slow,drawish reputation, this variation became more popular after being taken up byJohn Nunn in the 1980s. The common move orders are 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 (ECO C54), and transposition from theBishop's Opening: 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 or 5.0-0 d6 6.c3.
If White plays Nc3 instead of c3, usually via 4...Nf6 5.Nc3, this leads to the hypersymmetrical Italian Four Knights Variation.[22]
Black can try to hold astrongpoint in the centre at e5 with 4...Qe7, a move which first appeared in theGöttingen manuscript c. 1500.[23] After 5.d4 (5.0-0 usuallytransposes) Bb6, White's options include 6.0-0, 6.d5, 6.a4 and 6.Bg5.[24] A typical continuation is 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1 0-0 (Leonhardt–Spielmann, Ostend 1907).[25]
This leads to the extremely sharpEvans Gambit, where White sacrifices a pawn enable quick development and attempt an attack on Black's king.
Codes from theEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings are:
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