Italian Game: Hungarian Defense

Italian Game: Hungarian Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code C50, part of the Italian Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 6 moves it is White 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
• 3... Be7 – Black plays the bishop to e7

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 4. d4.

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: Hungarian Defense course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Italian Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4)
• Continues with: Scotch Game: Benima Defense – adds 4. d4 exd4
• Related line: Italian Game: Giuoco Piano (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5)
• Related line: Italian Game: Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4)
• Related line: Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5)
• Related line: Italian Game: Jerome Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7+)
• Related line: Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5)
• Related line: Italian Game: Paris Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6)

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