Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · C50–C59
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 5
f7 is the target until Black castles
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
The idea
The oldest opening in chess: the bishop takes the diagonal that points at f7, the weakest square in Black's camp, and both sides develop fast.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
What White wants
- Aim the bishop at f7 and prepare d4 or c3 and d4 to open the centre
- Develop with d3, O-O and Re1 in the quiet Italian
- Attack with Ng5 and Qh5-style ideas only when Black is uncastled
What Black wants
- Play ...Bc5 and ...Nf6, and castle as soon as it is safe
- Meet d4 with ...exd4 and hit back at the centre
- Neutralise the bishop on c4 with ...Be6 or ...Na5
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
f7 is the target until Black castles
The a2–g8 diagonal passes through f7, the pawn defended only by the king in the starting position. Italian attacking ideas — Ng5, Qh5 and the Fried Liver — exploit this vulnerability before Black develops enough defenders or castles to safety.
Common mistake
Playing Ng5 without checking Black's central reply. After ...d5 the centre opens, and White must calculate the resulting exchanges; the attack on f7 is a concrete tactic, not a plan to follow regardless of Black's moves.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 3 3
Analyze this positionVariations
1 line branching from here.
Traps in this opening
Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.
All opening traps