Chess opening · ECO C50

Italian Game

Three simple developing moves, 1.e4, 2.Nf3 and 3.Bc4, make the Italian Game. The bishop takes the a2-g8 diagonal and aims at f7, a weak point that only the black king protects. White is ready to castle on the next move. Black's third move then sorts the game into its main branches, from the calm Giuoco Piano to the sharp Two Knights Defense.

Rank by weighted share: #15 of 159

After 3. Bc4, Black to move.

Key moves

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

2. Nf3The knight attacks e5 and develops toward the center. Black protects the pawn with ...Nc6, which also brings out a piece.
3. Bc4The bishop settles on c4, on the diagonal that runs to f7 and g8. It stays there in many lines, so Black's plans often include ...d5 or ...Na5 to blunt or trade it.

How Black's third move splits the game

3...Bc5 gives the Giuoco Piano: the bishops mirror each other, and each aims at the other side's f-pawn. White then picks between c3 with d4, the slower d3, or the b4 pawn offer.

3...Nf6 is the Two Knights Defense. The knight attacks e4 right away, and White can answer with Ng5, doubling up on f7, or keep things calmer with d3.

3...Be7 develops more quietly. The bishop guards the kingside and keeps the f6 square free for a knight, but from e7 it does not touch f2.

Why f7 matters so much

At the start, f7 is defended only by the king. A bishop on c4 plus a knight on g5 or a queen on h5 can attack it twice, and many quick tactics in this opening land on that square. Much of Black's early play is about getting a second guard there or blocking the bishop's line.

Ng5 against the Two Knights

3... Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5

The knight jump puts two attackers on f7. Black blocks the bishop with ...d5 and, after the capture, chases the c4 bishop with ...Na5 instead of retaking on d5. Black is a pawn down but gains time against the bishop.

Top replies by rating

Nf6 leads below 1600 and again at 2000 and up, while Bc5 tops the bands from 1600 to 1999. The pawn move h6 drops out of the top three from 1800, replaced by Be7.

Rating	Top	Second	Third
Under 1200	Nf6 34%	h6 16%	Bc5 15%
1200–1399	Nf6 32%	h6 22%	Bc5 20%
1400–1599	Nf6 29%	Bc5 25%	h6 23%
1600–1799	Bc5 32%	Nf6 28%	h6 18%
1800–1999	Bc5 39%	Nf6 34%	Be7 8%
2000 and up	Nf6 46%	Bc5 37%	Be7 8%

How the weighted shares are counted

Questions

How is the Italian different from the Ruy Lopez?

In the Ruy Lopez the bishop goes to b5 and presses on the c6 knight, the defender of e5. In the Italian it goes to c4 and aims at f7. The two lead to different pawn structures and different plans.

King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 Italian Game: Two Knights Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 Italian Game: Giuoco Piano1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4

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