Italian Game

Italian Game is a chess opening with the ECO code C50. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 5 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
• 3. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3... Bc5, 3... Nf6, 3... Be7.

About the Italian Game

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, White plays 3.Bc4, aiming the bishop at the weak f7 pawn. It teaches quick development and fast castling.

• The quiet plan is c3, d3, O-O and later d4 to build a strong centre.
• f7 is guarded only by the king, so watch for Ng5 and Qh5 tricks.
• Black can reply 3...Bc5 (Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (Two Knights), both sound choices.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Italian Game course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6)
• Continues with: Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense – adds 3... h6
• Continues with: Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit – adds 3... Nd4
• Continues with: Italian Game: Giuoco Piano – adds 3... Bc5
• Continues with: Italian Game: Hungarian Defense – adds 3... Be7
• Continues with: Italian Game: Paris Defense – adds 3... d6
• Continues with: Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit – adds 3... f5
• Continues with: Italian Game: Two Knights Defense – adds 3... Nf6
• Related line: Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6)
• Related line: Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4)
• Related line: Italian Game: Classical Variation, Albin Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. c3)
• Related line: Italian Game: Deutz Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4)
• Related line: Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3)
• Related line: Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Nc3 d6 6. d3)

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