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

Open Game
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white bishopd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h

Italian Game edit

3. Bc4 edit

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 the centre and targets f7. This opening is very easy to study and one of the best choices for beginners.

Responses edit

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 edit

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 edit

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

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External links edit

References edit