Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. d4

Italian Gambit
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/2n5/2b1p3/2BPP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4

Italian Gambit

4.d4

White sacrifices their d-pawn in order to open lines for their pieces and develop faster. Black has 3 recaptures

4…exd4 transposes into the Haxo Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5)

4…Nxd4 is not good because white has 5. Nxe5 with pressure on f7 or the venomous 5. b4

4…Bxd4 is the strongest option. Play will continue 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Be3 Nc6

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4

	4	5	6
	d4 Bxd4	Nxd4 Nxd4	O-O d6	=
Scotch Gambit	... exd4			=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.