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: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Main Line
C54 17 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Bb3 Ba7 9. h3
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a4 a5
C54 14 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 a5
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a5
C54 11 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a5 6. c3
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6
C54 10 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6
C54 12 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6
C54 12 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation
C54 16 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Dubov Italian
C54 11 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. b4
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation
C54 16 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line
C54 16 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line
C54 11 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line
C54 12 plies
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5
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