ChessScreenshot

Italian Game: Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 · C50–C54

Part of Italian Game

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 14

The pawn centre can be attacked before it forms

  1. 1.
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  5. 5.
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  7. 7.

The idea

The 'quiet game': Black mirrors with ...Bc5, White builds a centre with c3 and d4, and the position opens up into a genuine fight for the initiative.

Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4

What White wants

  • Build the ideal centre with c3 and d4 and keep it intact
  • Develop with O-O and Re1 and attack down the e-file
  • Meet ...Bb4+ with Nc3 or Bd2 and hold the centre

What Black wants

  • Pin and pressure the centre with ...Bb4+ and ...d5
  • Trade on d4 to leave White with an isolated pawn
  • Use the bishop on c5 and the ...d5 break to free the game

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The pawn centre can be attacked before it forms

d4 is the move that wins space, but it also gives Black a target. ...exd4 and ...Bb4+ attack the piece that will have to hold the centre, which is why Black can usually equalise here.

Common mistake

Treating c3 and d4 as a finished plan. Once ...exd4 opens the centre, Black can use ...Bb4+ and ...d5 to gain time; choose your response to the check carefully and develop rather than merely defending pawns.

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.

r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/1bBPn3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 8

Analyze this position

Variations

1 line branching from here.

Related openings

Italian Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · C50–C59The 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.Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 · C50The modern main line: White keeps the centre flexible with d3, builds slowly with c3 and Re1, and only then decides where to strike.Evans Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 · C51–C52White throws the b-pawn at the bishop to buy the moves c3 and d4, building an ideal centre at full speed — the oldest gambit still played at the top level.Two Knights Defense1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 · C55–C59Black ignores the attack on f7 and develops instead — a challenge that says the pawn is not really en prise and White has to prove otherwise.