Italian Game

The Italian Game is a chess opening beginning with the moves:

:1. e4 e5

:2. Nf3 Nc6

:3. Bc4

White the bishop to the active square c4 (the so-called ""), where it attacks Black's pawn on f7, protected only by the king. Black usually responds with 3...Bc5 (the Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defense).

The Italian is one of the oldest recorded chess openings, being played Pedro Damiano and Giulio Polerio in the 16th century, and later by Gioachino Greco in 1620, who developed the opening's classical main line. It has been extensively analyzed for more than 300 years.

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, the Italian Game is assigned ten codes: C50 covers Black's third move alternatives as well as White's fourth move alternatives after 3...Bc5, C51–C52 covers 3...Bc5 4.b4 (the Evans Gambit), C53-C54 covers 3...Bc5 4.c3 (the main line of the Giuoco Piano), and C55–C59 covers 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defense).

Terminology

There is no universally accepted definition for the term Italian Game (nor Italian Opening). Originally, the term was rare in English, but could be used interchangeably with the more common term Giuoco Piano ('Quiet Game' in Italian), which had been used in English to refer to play after 3...Bc5, while Black's third move alternatives, such as the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6) and the Hungarian Defense (3...Be7), were considered separate openings, rather than variations of the Italian. Reuben Fine's influential 1948 book lacked a term for 3.Bc4 in general.

The typical modern usage of Italian Game refers to all play beginning with 3.Bc4, a meaning advocated by Harding and Botterill in 1977, who discouraged the use of Giuoco Piano on the grounds that the name was inappropriate given the tactics present in many lines. Additionally, the broader scope is regarded as illustrative of the diminished importance of the Italian today compared to the 19th century, as other openings have surpassed it in popularity, like the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5), Sicilian Defense (1...c5), and Queen's Pawn Game (1.d4).

The term Giuoco Piano is now often used contrastively with Italian Game to refer only to play after 3...Bc5 (its original meaning), or, more narrowly, to play after 3...Bc5 4.c3, contrasting with alternative fourth moves such as the Evans Gambit (4.b4) or Giuoco Pianissimo ('Quietest Game') (4.d3). In particular, the Giuoco Piano tends to refer to classical lines with d4 instead of d3, rather than the modern main line with 5.d3, which may be seen as transposing to the Giuoco Pianissimo. Some authors do not use the term Giuoco Piano either, particularly in recent years. Others use Giuoco Piano for 3.Bc4, interchangeably with Italian Game.

History

The Italian Game has a very long history of play. It is one of the openings analyzed in the Göttingen manuscript, the earliest known work on modern chess. According to recorded games from around 1620, Gioachino Greco met 3...Nf6 with 4.Ng5 and 3...Bc5 with 4.c3; consistently playing 4.c3 while other players tended to play 4.0-0. He developed the old main line 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+, and particularly the gambit continuation 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0, which is still occasionally seen today.

The Italian was employed in some of the great victories of the 19th century. Many of these games took place in the Evans Gambit, which became very common in the 1830s, and was frequently played by the likes of Paul Morphy. The old line with 4.c3 was also still used, such as by Wilhelm Steinitz in the World Chess Championship 1894 and World Chess Championship 1896-1897. However, it lost popularity at the top level in the late 19th century. In the 1880s, Henry Bird wrote that it was "not quite so much in favor with the leading players as it formerly was".

Despite occasional periods of revitalization, the Italian was much less played at the top level than the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5) in the 20th century, though it was the most common of White's early deviations after 1.e4 e5. Paul Keres wrote that the move 3.Bc4 was "too calm to give White advantage". Some masters like Rudolf Spielmann continued to employ it regularly.

In the late 20th century, the opening's popularity recovered somewhat as the Giuoco Pianissimo (the lines where White plays 4.d3 or 5.d3) became more played, especially by younger players, as well as by Anatoly Karpov, who played it twice in the World Chess Championship 1981. The recovery continued in the 21st century due to the emergence of the Berlin Defense (3.Bb5 Nf6) to the Ruy Lopez after the Classical World Chess Championship 2000 between Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov, which led White players to search for new ideas in the Italian, which avoids the Berlin.

<span class="anchor" id="Giuoco Piano"></span> Giuoco Piano: 3...Bc5

3...Bc5 has traditionally been Black's main reply to 3.Bc4, though 3...Nf6 is now about as popular. Until the 19th century, the main line was 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4. Though dubbed the Giuoco Piano ("Quiet Game") in contrast to the more aggressive lines like the King's Gambit (2.f4), the line has many aggressive continuations. The most common alternative to 4.c3 is 4.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo ("Very Quiet Game"), a positional line where White gives up the possibility of playing d2–d4 in one move. The modern main line of the Italian Game is 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3, transposing to the Giuoco Pianissimo. In the 4.d3 move order, White may opt to avoid c3 in favor of Nc3, though this is uncommon.

Alternative continuations for White include the aggressive Evans Gambit (4.b4), a popular opening in the 19th century which is still occasionally played. 4.0-0 will usually transpose into the Giuoco Pianissimo after 4...Nf6 5.d3, or White can play a gambit with 5.d4. The Italian Gambit (4.d4) may transpose into the Scotch Gambit after 4...exd4; however, this move order allows Black the option of 4...Bxd4, so if White wants a Scotch Gambit, 3.d4 is usually preferred. The Jerome Gambit (4.Bxf7+) is unsound. 4.Nc3 usually transposes into the Four Knights Game after 4...Nf6.

<span class="anchor" id="Two Knights Defense"></span> Two Knights Defense: 3...Nf6

3...Nf6 is a more aggressive option for Black. David Bronstein even went so far as to propose that "Chigorin Counterattack" would be a more appropriate name.

If White attempts to exploit the weakness of Black's f-pawn with 4.Ng5, Black may try the knife-edged Traxler Counterattack (4...Bc5). After the more common 4...d5 5.exd5, Black generally avoids 5...Nxd5 allowing 6.Nxf7, the Fegatello or Fried Liver Attack, or 6.d4, the Lolli Variation, both of which are difficult to defend under practical conditions. Most common is 5...Na5, sacrificing a pawn for an active position. The very sharp Fritz Variation (5...Nd4) and the closely related Ulvestad Variation (5...b5) lead to wild positions with little margin for error for either side.

A option for White is 4.d3, when Black's main options are 4...Bc5, transposing into the Giuoco Pianissimo; 4...Be7, a solid move; 4...h6, which may intend a kingside attack; and the risky 4...d5. Alternatively, White can play 4.d4, which may lead to the Scotch Gambit after the usual reply 4...exd4.

Black's third move alternatives

3...Be7 (Hungarian Defense). A solid, drawish defense which is occasionally seen in tournament play to avoid the complexities and risks of the other lines.
3...d6 (Semi-Italian Opening). Another solid positional line, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but rarely seen today. Transposition to the Hungarian Defense (e.g. after 4.0-0 Be7) or Scotch Game (after 4.d4 exd4) is common. The main independent lines begin 4.d4 Bg4 and 4.c3. 4.c3 f5 is a delayed Rousseau Gambit.
3...g6. This allows White to attack with 4.d4 (4.d3 has also been tried) 4...exd4 5.c3 (5.Nxd4 and 5.Bg5 are also possible) 5...dxc3 6.Nxc3 Bg7 and now 7.Qb3 (Unzicker) or 7.Bg5 (O'Kelly).
3...Nd4 (Blackburne Shilling Gambit). This ostensibly weak third move is a false gambit expectant upon White falling into the trap of capturing Black's undefended pawn (4.Nxe5 Qg5). While generally considered time-wasting against more experienced players due to 4.Nxd4! exd4 5.c3, it has ensnared many chess novices and can provide a quick and easy mate against players unfamiliar with the line.
3...f5 (Rousseau Gambit). White does best to avoid the pawn offer with 4.d3 or 4.d4.
3...Qf6. After 3...Qf6?! 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.Nb5 White has a clear advantage (Unzicker).
3...h6. Neglects Black's and is generally considered a waste of time; however, the move has no immediate refutation and has been tried by Czech grandmaster Pavel Blatny.

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Levy, David; O'Donnell, K. (1981). Oxford Encyclopaedia of Chess Games Vol I (1485–1866). .