Italian Game

The Italian Game is one of the openings analyzed in the Göttingen manuscript, the earliest known work on modern chess. According to recorded games from around 1620, Gioachino Greco met 3...Bc5 with the old main line 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4^[2] and 3...Nf6 with 4.Ng5.^[3] The Italian has a long history of play and was employed in some of the great victories of the 19th century;^[4] however, it lost popularity at the top level in the late 19th century. In the 1880s, Henry Bird wrote that it was "not quite so much in favor with the leading players as it formerly was".^[4]

Though revitalized at the turn of the 20th century by the Møller Attack, the Italian was much less played at the top level than the Ruy Lopez (3.Bb5) in the 20th century, though it was the most common of White's early deviations after 1.e4 e5. Paul Keres wrote that the move 3.Bc4 was "too calm to give White advantage".^[5] It regained some popularity in the late 20th century as the Giuoco Pianissimo (the lines where White plays 4.d3 or 5.d3) became more played, especially by younger players,^[6] and further in the 21st century, due to the emergence of the Berlin Defense (3.Bb5 Nf6) to the Ruy Lopez after the Classical World Chess Championship 2000 between Vladimir Kramnik and Garry Kasparov, which led White players to search for new ideas in the Italian, which avoids the Berlin.

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Giuoco Piano 3...Bc5

3...Bc5 has traditionally been Black's main reply to 3.Bc4, though 3...Nf6 is now about as popular. Until the 19th century, the main line was 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4. Though dubbed the Giuoco Piano ("Quiet Game") in contrast to the more aggressive lines like the King's Gambit (2.f4), the line has many aggressive continuations. The most common alternative to 4.c3 is 4.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo ("Very Quiet Game"), a positional line where White gives up the possibility of playing d2–d4 in one move. The modern main line of the Italian Game is 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3, transposing to the Giuoco Pianissimo. In the 4.d3 move order, White may opt to avoid c3 in favor of Nc3, though this is uncommon.

Alternative continuations for White include the aggressive Evans Gambit (4.b4), a popular opening in the 19th century which is still occasionally played. 4.0-0 will usually transpose into the Giuoco Pianissimo after 4...Nf6 5.d3, or White can play a gambit with 5.d4. The Italian Gambit (4.d4) may transpose into the Scotch Gambit after 4...exd4; however, this move order allows Black the option of 4...Bxd4, so if White wants a Scotch Gambit, 3.d4 is usually preferred. The Jerome Gambit (4.Bxf7+) is unsound. 4.Nc3 usually transposes into the Four Knights Game after 4...Nf6.

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Two Knights Defense 3...Nf6

3...Nf6 is a more aggressive option for Black. David Bronstein even went so far as to propose that "Chigorin Counterattack" would be a more appropriate name.^[7]

If White attempts to exploit the weakness of Black's f-pawn with 4.Ng5, Black may try the knife-edged Traxler Counterattack (4...Bc5!?). After the more common 4...d5 5.exd5, Black generally avoids 5...Nxd5 allowing 6.Nxf7, the Fegatello or Fried Liver Attack, or 6.d4, the Lolli Variation, both of which are difficult to defend under practical conditions. Most common is 5...Na5, sacrificing a pawn for an active position. The very sharp Fritz Variation (5...Nd4) and the closely related Ulvestad Variation (5...b5) lead to wild positions with little margin for error for either side.

A quieter option for White is 4.d3, when Black's main options are 4...Bc5, transposing into the Giuoco Pianissimo; 4...Be7, a solid move; 4...h6, which may intend a kingside attack; and the risky 4...d5. Alternatively, White can play 4.d4, which may lead to the Scotch Gambit after the usual reply 4...exd4.

• 3...Be7 (Hungarian Defense). A solid, drawish defense which is occasionally seen in tournament play to avoid the complexities and risks of the other lines.
• 3...d6 (Semi-Italian Opening). Another solid positional line, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but rarely seen today. Transposition to the Hungarian Defense (e.g. after 4.0-0 Be7) or Scotch Game (after 4.d4 exd4) is common. The main independent lines begin 4.d4 Bg4 and 4.c3. 4.c3 f5 is a delayed Rousseau Gambit.
• 3...g6. This allows White to attack with 4.d4 (4.d3 has also been tried) 4...exd4 5.c3! (5.Nxd4 and 5.Bg5 are also possible) 5...dxc3 6.Nxc3 Bg7 and now 7.Qb3 (Unzicker) or 7.Bg5 (O'Kelly).
• 3...Nd4 (Blackburne Shilling Gambit). This ostensibly weak third move is a false gambit expectant upon White falling into the trap of capturing Black's undefended pawn (4.Nxe5?! Qg5). While generally considered time-wasting against more experienced players due to 4.Nxd4! exd4 5.c3, it has ensnared many chess novices and can provide a quick and easy mate against players unfamiliar with the line.
• 3...f5 (Rousseau Gambit). White does best to avoid the pawn offer with 4.d3 or 4.d4.
• 3...Qf6. After 3...Qf6?! 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.Nb5 White has a clear advantage (Unzicker).
• 3...h6. Neglects Black's development and is generally considered a waste of time;^[8] however, the move has no immediate refutation and has been tried by Czech grandmaster Pavel Blatny.^[9]

• Chess opening
• Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after places