Opening Overview

Italian Game

181 lines
white repertoire

About This Opening

White develops naturally and aims for fast piece activity and central tension.

The opening's main value is its characteristic move order, which helps steer the game toward familiar structures and plans.

When studying it, focus on the first forcing decisions, the main branching points, and the kind of middlegames the opening is designed to reach.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: recognize the key move order early.
  • Learn the first critical branching decisions.
  • Best for players who want a repeatable repertoire line.
  • Understand the resulting pawn structure and piece placement.

Choose a variation

Italian Game: Giuoco Piano
C50 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
Italian Game: Hungarian Defense
C50 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7
Italian Game: Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation
C50 12 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 exd4 5. c3 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4
Italian Game: Jerome Gambit
C50 7 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7+
Italian Game: Paris Defense
C50 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6
Italian Game: Rosentreter Gambit
C50 7 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4
Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit
C50 6 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5
Italian Game: Evans Gambit
C51 7 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4
Italian Game: Evans Gambit
C51 18 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 Bg4
Italian Game: Evans Gambit Accepted
C51 8 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4
Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined
C51 8 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6
Italian Game: Evans Gambit Declined
C51 9 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 5. a4
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