Italian Game

The main line

The Italian Game is reached by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (ECO C50). It's one of 184 named lines under this opening in the book.

Named variations (18)

• Two Knights Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 (C55)
• Classical Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 (C53)
• Evans Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 (C51)
• Scotch Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O (C56)
• Giuoco Piano — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 (C50)
• Giuoco Pianissimo — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 (C50)
• Evans Gambit Declined — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 (C51)
• Hungarian Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 (C50)
• Anti-Fried Liver Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 (C50)
• Paris Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 (C50)
• Rousseau Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5 (C50)
• Blackburne-Kostić Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 (C50)
• Rosentreter Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 (C50)
• Jerome Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Bxf7+ (C50)
• Scotch Invitation Declined — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 d6 (C56)
• Evans Gambit Accepted — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 (C51)
• Bird's Attack — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4 (C53)
• Deutz Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 (C50)

Analyze the Italian Game

Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.

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