Chess opening · ECO C50
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
Quietest branch of the Italian, the Pianissimo is a slow game. With 4.d3, White protects e4 and frees the c1 bishop, and puts off any central break for later. Both sides castle, tuck their bishops away from pawn attacks and maneuver behind the pawns. The d4 push for White and the ...d5 push for Black usually come only after long preparation.
- Rank by weighted share
- #123 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3
- 4. d3The pawn on d3 guards e4 and opens the diagonal for the c1 bishop toward g5. It also keeps the position closed, so White can bring pieces around slowly before choosing a plan.
Keeping both bishops safe
Each side's bishop can be hit by pawns. White's c4 bishop is a target for ...d5 or ...Na5, so it often drops back to b3. Black's c5 bishop can be chased by d4 or b4, so ...a6 makes room for a retreat to a7.
Moves like h3 and ...h6 belong to the same theme. They keep enemy pieces off g4 and g5, where a bishop could pin a knight against the queen.
Slow knight tours
White's queen knight rarely goes to c3 here, since c3 is kept for a pawn. A common route is Nbd2, then Nf1 and Ng3, where the knight looks at f5 and h5. Black has similar ideas, and the rooks often come to e1 and e8 before anything opens.
Castled and waiting
4... Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Bb3 Ba7 9. h3
Both kings are safe and both bishops have stepped back to b3 and a7, where pushes like d4 or ...d5 no longer hit them. With h3, White stops ...Bg4 from pinning the f3 knight. The c3 pawn prepares d4 whenever White is ready.
Top replies by rating
Nf6 leads every band up to 1999. At 2000 and up d6 edges just past it, and h6 holds a place in the top three throughout.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nf6 53% | d6 33% | h6 14% |
| 1200–1399 | Nf6 39% | h6 27% | d6 27% |
| 1400–1599 | Nf6 40% | h6 29% | d6 24% |
| 1600–1799 | Nf6 41% | d6 29% | h6 28% |
| 1800–1999 | Nf6 49% | d6 28% | h6 22% |
| 2000 and up | d6 45% | Nf6 44% | h6 10% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.