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

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. e4 | 1...e5 | 2. Nf3 | 2...Nc6
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Italian Game
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b

Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
ECO code: C50–C59
Parent: King's Knight Opening
Responses:


Italian Game

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3. Bc4

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The Italian Game is very popular and one of the oldest openings in chess. White develops the bishop to a good square where it controls a valuable diagonal in the centre and targets Black's f7-pawn. This move also clears the way for early kingside castling. This opening is very easy to study and one of the best choices for beginners. Black has a few responses here, but the most played are 3. Nf6, the Two Knights Defense, which can lead to sharp lines, and 3. Bc5, the Giuoco Piano, which focuses on quiet play and developing pieces, though the Evans Gambit can subvert that.

Responses

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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
3...Nf6   (Two Knights)

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
3...Bc5   (Giuoco Piano)

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
3...Be7   (Hungarian)

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
3....d6   (Paris)

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
3....Nd4   (Blackburne Shilling 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
3....f5   (Rousseau Gambit)


Theory table

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

3 4
Two Knights Defence ...
Nf6		 Ng5
d5		 =
Giuoco Piano ...
Bc5		 c3
Nf6		 =
Hungarian Defence ...
Be7		 d4
exd4		 =
Paris Defence ...
d6		 c3
Bg4		 +/=
Blackburne Shilling Gambit ...
Nd4		 c3
Nxf3		 +/=
Rousseau Gambit ...
f5		 d3
Nf6		 +/=
Other ...
a6		 d4
exd4		 0-0
Bc5		 c3
dxc3		 +/=

Statistics

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Estimated next move popularity Nf6 56%, Bc5 38%, Be7 3%, d6 2%, all else less than 1%

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References

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Wikipedia has related information at Italian Game


v · t · e
Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
1...e5 · Open
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other

1...c5 · Sicilian
2... Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:

With 2...d6:

With 2...e6:

With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1... other
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4
1...d5 · Closed
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1...Nf6 · Indian
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other
1... other
Flank
Unorthodox
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