Italian Game
Learn the Italian Game opening by playing the moves yourself. Start from 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, then practise the quiet Giuoco Piano, sharp Evans Gambit, Two Knights Defence, and Fried Liver ideas move by move.
Best for: Beginners & attackers · ECO C50-C59 · First moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
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Position after the Italian Game setup
Common replies
Standard lines you'll meet most of the time. Begin with the recommended giuoco piano, then work through the rest.
Giuoco Piano
The 'Quiet Game' where both sides develop classically with 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4. White builds a strong centre while Black must decide how to react to the imposing d4-e4 pawn duo. Sharp tactical play often follows as both sides compete for central dominance.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Giuoco Pianissimo
The 'Very Quiet Game' where White plays 4.d3 instead of 4.c3, opting for a slower, more strategic build-up. White develops with O-O, Re1, and a2-a4, keeping the position flexible. Modern grandmaster practice has shown this approach can be surprisingly venomous despite its calm appearance.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Evans Gambit
A dashing pawn sacrifice with 4.b4, offering a pawn to deflect Black's bishop and seize the centre with tempo. After 4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5, White builds a powerful pawn centre with d4. The Evans Gambit leads to open, tactical positions where White's initiative can be devastating.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Two Knights Defence
Black plays 3...Nf6 instead of 3...Bc5, immediately counterattacking the e4 pawn. This aggressive response forces White to make critical decisions - the safe 4.d3 or 4.d4, or the sharp 4.Ng5 targeting f7. The Two Knights leads to rich tactical play from the earliest moves.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Fried Liver Attack
One of chess's most famous attacks, where White plays 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7, sacrificing a knight on f7 to expose the black king. The Fried Liver leads to wild tactical complications where precise play is essential for both sides. A favourite at club level for its shock value.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Traxler Counterattack
Instead of defending with 4...d5 against 4.Ng5, Black plays the audacious 4...Bc5, ignoring the threat to f7 and counter-threatening f2. This bold counterattack leads to incredibly sharp positions where both kings are in danger. Theory is dense and one misstep can be fatal for either side.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Classical Variation
After 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4, Black plays 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 (or 7.Nc3), entering a well-analysed theoretical duel. White gets a strong centre but Black's active pieces and the pin on d2 create counterplay. A key battleground in modern Italian Game theory.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Hungarian Defence
Black plays the solid but passive 3...Be7, avoiding all the sharp complications of 3...Bc5 and 3...Nf6. White gets a comfortable position with easy development, but Black's setup is extremely solid and hard to crack. Occasionally seen as a surprise weapon to avoid preparation.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7…
Two Knights Modern (4.d3)
The slow-Italian treatment of the Two Knights: White avoids the sharp 4.Ng5 lines and plays the modern 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.c3 d6 setup. The position resembles a Pianissimo with both sides manoeuvring quietly behind a closed centre - a low-risk way to bypass the Fried Liver and Traxler theory.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Italian Four Knights
Quiet symmetrical play: after 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Bd3 dxe4 7.Bxe4, the position simplifies into a balanced middlegame with both sides comfortably developed. A solid Italian system that often leads to drawish but instructive positions, ideal for studying classical piece play.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Canal Variation
The pin-and-trade plan: White develops with d3 and Nc3, then pins the f6 knight with Bg5 and exchanges it after ...h6. The resulting position features Black's bishop pair against White's better pawn structure and central control - a strategic battle between two long-term assets.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Pianissimo with Nbd2
The Nbd2-f1-g3 regrouping that defines modern Italian play.
The modern main line: White builds slowly with d3, c3 and Nbd2, planning Nf1-g3 and a well-timed d4. Understanding the plan matters far more than memorising moves here.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Giuoco Piano Main Line
Occupying the centre with c3 and d4 in the classical Italian.
White builds the classical centre with c3 and d4. After the exchange on d4 and the check on b4, pieces come off and White is left with a small but pleasant pull in the centre.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Sharper options
More aggressive or off-beat lines. Add these once the main setup feels natural.
Greco Attack
White plays the classical 4.c3 followed by 5.d4, building the ideal pawn centre and opening lines for active piece play. Named after the 17th-century Italian master Gioachino Greco, this aggressive treatment leads to sharp tactical positions where White's central majority and lead in development can quickly translate into a strong attack on f7.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Bird's Defence
Black plays the offbeat 3...Nd4, immediately challenging the Italian bishop and inviting tactical complications. Named after the English master Henry Bird, this surprise weapon can catch unprepared opponents off guard. After 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O, Black accepts a slightly worse structure for active piece play and the bishop pair.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4…
Moller Attack
A classical theoretical battlefield: after 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5, White sacrifices material for a powerful initiative and central pawn duo. Black must navigate precise defensive lines to neutralise the attack and consolidate the extra material.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Evans Gambit Accepted Mainline
The principled main line of the Evans: Black accepts the b-pawn with ...Bxb4, retreats to a5, then returns the pawn with ...d6 after White builds the centre with c3 and d4. White gets rapid development and a strong centre in exchange for the gambit pawn - a romantic-era weapon that still bites today.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Evans Gambit Declined
Black sidesteps the gambit with 4...Bb6, refusing the pawn and aiming for solid development. White typically responds with a4-a5 to gain queenside space and Nc3-Nd5 for piece pressure. A practical, lower-theory way to face the Evans without entering its sharpest lines.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Two Knights Lolli Variation
Mainline Polerio-Lolli territory: after 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2, Black plays ...h6 9.Nf3 e4, gaining time on the knight and central space at the cost of a pawn. A heavily analysed line where Black's piece activity must compensate for the material deficit.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Two Knights Fritz Variation
The sharp 5...Nd4 instead of the mainline 5...Na5: Black ignores the threats on f7 and counterattacks the c4 bishop with the knight from d4. After 6.c3 b5 7.Bf1 Nxd5, the position becomes wildly unbalanced - one of the most concrete and forcing variations in the Two Knights.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Scotch Gambit
A bridge between Italian and Scotch theory: White plays 4.d4 immediately, sacrificing the centre pawn for rapid development. After 4...exd4 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4, the position opens up into sharp tactical play where White's lead in development must be converted before Black consolidates.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Max Lange Attack
Generating a fierce attack straight out of the opening.
A romantic-era gambit that is still dangerous today. White pushes e5 and gives up the bishop for a raging attack against the black king, with Re1 pins and Ng5 ideas arriving quickly.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Two Knights with 5...Na5
Playing the extra-pawn side against Black's rapid development.
Black's main answer to the Fried Liver attempt: 5...Na5 hits the bishop and accepts a pawn deficit for lasting development. White should return the pawn at the right moment and aim for a solid position.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Two Knights Ulvestad
Handling a sharp counter-gambit with an accurate bishop retreat.
Black offers the b-pawn with 5...b5 to deflect the bishop and gain time. Concrete play follows straight away, so knowing the Bf1 retreat and the ...Nd4 follow-up is essential.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6…
Evans Gambit Compromised Defence
Converting a development lead into a direct attack.
Black grabs everything with ...dxc3, and White responds with the classical Qb3 double attack. Pure tactics: White has a huge lead in development against a shattered black position.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Rousseau Gambit
Refuting an early ...f5 with calm, rapid development.
Black lashes out with 3...f5, a risky gambit that weakens the kingside. White declines with d3, opens the centre, and develops quickly to punish the loosened king position.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5…
Advanced hybrids
Structurally different lines for established players. Best learned after the main setup is automatic.
Pianissimo Modern Mainline
The current elite tabiya of the Italian: White plays the slow d3, c3, a4 setup, parking the bishop on a7 and preparing the Nbd2-f1-g3 manoeuvre. With h3 securing the kingside, White builds slowly for a long strategic battle. The most-played Italian at top grandmaster level today.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Evans Gambit Lasker Defence
Keeping the initiative when Black defuses the Evans Gambit.
Lasker's antidote to the Evans Gambit: return the pawn and retreat the bishop to b6, heading for an endgame where White's structure is loose. White must play energetically to justify the sacrifice.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5…
Learn more about the Italian Game
12 sections covering move order, plans, structures, who it suits, and more.
If you like the Italian Game, try…
Hand-picked next steps to round out your repertoire.
Another opening for White
London System
A solid d4 opening where White develops the dark-squared bishop to f4 early, building a resilient pawn triangle on c3-d4-e3. Low on theory and high on plans, making it an ideal weapon at all levels.
Pair this with a defence as Black
King's Indian Defence
A hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a broad pawn centre, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a powerful long-range weapon.
Try next
Ruy Lopez
The king of 1.e4 openings - White develops the bishop to b5, pressuring the knight that defends e5. A cornerstone of top-level chess, it leads to deep strategic battles from slow manoeuvring to explosive attacks.
Practise the Italian Game against real opponents
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