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Italian Game (for White)

The Italian Game is one of the oldest chess openings. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, White develops quickly and aims the bishop at f7, the weakest square in Black's camp until the king has castled.

White's ideas

Occupy the center with the e4 pawn and then d4, or d3 in the slow, modern version.
Prepare the d4 push with the c3 pawn: that is the point of the c3 move in the main line.
Castle early, put a rook on e1 and reroute the b1 knight to g3 via d2 and f1.

Black's ideas

The bishop on c5 mirrors White's, aiming at f2 and hindering d4.
Castle quickly, then play d6 and a6 to keep the bishop alive when it is attacked.

The main line: Giuoco Pianissimo

4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a6 8.Bb3 Ba7 9.h3. The play is slow and full of maneuvers: both sides improve their pieces before opening the center. The h3 pawn stops a black bishop or knight from landing on g4.

Main variations

Classical Giuoco Piano: 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5. White builds a big center, but Black challenges it at once.
Evans Gambit: 3...Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4. White gives a pawn to gain time and open the center against the black king.
Two Knights Defense: 3...Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6. Black sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly.

The trap to know: the Fried Liver

Taking the pawn back with the knight is careless: 3...Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5? allows 6.Nxf7! Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3, and Black's king ends up in the middle of the board. With Black, remember 5.exd5 Na5!

Coach's advice

With White, finish your development before attacking. With Black, watch the f7 square until your king has castled. Click the colored moves to see each line on the board, then ask me your questions.

Main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a6 8.Bb3 Ba7 9.h3