Italian Game: moves, ideas and plans

Fast development and a bishop aimed at f7, the weakest square in Black's camp. The classic first opening to learn with White.

C54Play it as WhiteBeginner16 moves

Main line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5

Key ideas

• Develop knights before bishops and castle early.
• The bishop on c4 eyes f7, which only the king defends.
• c3 and d4 build a big pawn centre.

The Italian Game move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as C54 Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Traditional Line.

1. 1. e4Claims the centre and opens lines for the queen and the f1 bishop.
2. 1… e5Black mirrors, taking an equal share of the centre.
3. 2. Nf3Develops with tempo: the knight attacks the e5 pawn.
4. 2… Nc6The most natural defence of e5, also developing a piece.
5. 3. Bc4The Italian bishop: it points at f7 and controls d5.
6. 3… Bc5Giuoco Piano, the quiet game. Black copies the idea and eyes f2.
7. 4. c3Prepares d4 to build a full pawn centre. It also gives the queen a route to b3.
8. 4… Nf6Counter-attacks e4 and develops, the most active reply.
9. 5. d4White strikes in the centre: d4 attacks e5 and blocks the c5 bishop's diagonal.
10. 5… exd4Black takes, otherwise dxe5 would win space and attack the knight.
11. 6. cxd4White now has the ideal centre: pawns on e4 and d4.
12. 6… Bb4+The bishop checks, gaining time because c3 is no longer available for the knight.
13. 7. Bd2Blocks the check and offers to trade bishops.
14. 7… Bxd2+Black trades, removing a piece that could defend the centre.
15. 8. Nbxd2Recaptures with development. White keeps the strong centre.
16. 8… d5The key freeing move: Black challenges e4 before White gets e5.

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