Italian Game C50

C — Open games & French · Family: Italian Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

The Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) is the oldest recorded opening — analyzed by the Italian masters of the 1600s — and today one of White's most popular choices at every level. The bishop takes aim at f7 while White builds a natural center.

Modern play usually continues 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3, the "Giuoco Pianissimo": a slow buildup with d3/d4 breaks, often with an early ...a6 and ...b5 expansion for Black. Sharper paths include the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6 4.Ng5) with its famous complications, the Evans Gambit (4.b4!?) and the direct 4.d4. Piece play, not pawn storms, decides typical Italian middlegames.

Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.

Position after 5 half-moves — Black to move.
Material is balanced.
Family “Italian Game” contains 187 recorded variation(s) here.

Variations tree of the Italian Game family

Click any move to jump to that position; switch branches at any point with the alternative moves. Test your knowledge plays the shown position against the engine.

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187 variations of “Italian Game” · win% from 1.5M rated games · ♞ Test your knowledge vs engine

Variations of this family

Name	ECO	Main line length
Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense	C50	6 plies
Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit	C50	6 plies
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Albin Gambit	C50	9 plies
Italian Game: Deutz Gambit	C50	9 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo	C50	7 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo	C50	11 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo	C50	10 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo	C50	11 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Canal Variation	C50	11 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Dubois Variation	C50	10 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation	C50	9 plies
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit	C50	8 plies