Italian Game: Complete Opening Guide
The Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) is the oldest and most intuitive chess opening. The bishop aims at f7, Black's weakest point, from the very first moments. From Greco's 16th-century brilliancies to Caruana's modern prep, the Italian has never gone out of style.
What is the Italian Game?
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, White develops the bishop to the most active diagonal, aiming at f7. This is the Italian Game, one of the oldest recorded openings, analysed by Italian masters like Greco in the 1600s. The name "Giuoco Piano" (Quiet Game) refers to the main line with 3...Bc5, but the Italian is anything but quiet in modern practice.
The Italian is ideal for players who want natural development, central control, and attacking chances without memorising heavy theory. Compare it with the Ruy Lopez in our comparison guide.
Move order and main variations
The main move orders after 3.Bc4:
- 3...Bc5 4.c3, The Giuoco Piano. White prepares d4 to build a strong centre. After 4...Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 (or 7.Nc3), White has a mobile centre and attacking chances.
- 3...Bc5 4.b4!?, The Evans Gambit. White sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and a powerful centre after 4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4. Romantic, aggressive, and surprisingly sound.
- 3...Nf6 4.d3, The Giuoco Pianissimo. The quietest approach, White develops slowly with Be3, Nbd2, 0-0, Re1, and builds pressure gradually.
- 3...Nf6 4.Ng5, The Two Knights / Fried Liver Attack. The most aggressive continuation, targeting f7 directly. After 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5! is the modern main line.
Main ideas for White
White's strategic goals in the Italian:
- Build a strong centre with c3 and d4 (or d3 for slower play).
- Develop all pieces quickly, Nc3 or Nbd2, 0-0, Re1.
- Attack f7, the bishop on c4, combined with pieces on the f-file and queen on b3 or d3, creates constant pressure.
- Use the tempo advantage from natural development to launch a middlegame attack before Black is fully coordinated.
Main ideas for Black
Black's goals:
- Equalise in the centre, challenge d4 with ...d5 or ...d6, contest the centre with ...Be6 or ...Na5 (hitting the c4 bishop).
- Develop the dark-squared bishop actively, ...Bc5 mirrors White's pressure.
- In the Giuoco Piano, aim for ...d5 as early as possible to break White's central grip.
- Against the Fried Liver (4.Ng5), play 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5!, the modern refutation that gives Black active play.
Traps to know
The Fried Liver: After 3...Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?! 6.Nxf7! Kxf7 7.Qf3+, the Black king is dragged into the open. Defence is possible but difficult. Avoid 5...Nxd5, play 5...Na5! instead.
Legal's Trap: In the related Philidor setup: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6? 5.Nxe5! Bxd1?? 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5#, checkmate. See our opening traps guide.
The Blackburne Shilling: 3...Nd4!?, if White plays 4.Nxe5?? Qg5! wins material. The correct response is 4.Nxd4! exd4.
Famous games
Anderssen vs Dufresne, 1852 ("The Evergreen Game"): Perhaps the most famous Italian Game ever played. Anderssen sacrificed both rooks and a bishop for a devastating queen sacrifice and forced checkmate. See our Anderssen games analysis.
Kasparov vs Anand, 1995: Kasparov revived the Evans Gambit at the highest level, demonstrating that the pawn sacrifice gives lasting initiative.
Caruana vs Carlsen, 2018: Caruana used the Giuoco Piano extensively in their World Championship match, showing that the Italian is a serious weapon at the absolute top.
Training exercises
- Play through 5 master Italian Game games in our legends database.
- Practice the Giuoco Piano main line (4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4) until you can play it blindfolded.
- Solve tactical puzzles featuring the f7 weakness, the motifs you learn will appear constantly in your Italian Game middlegames.
- Explore the Italian Game in our opening explorer.