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This lesson is designed for chess beginners to learn the Italian Game chess opening. It includes the textual part and the following 4 chess videos: Italian Game - General Information, Italian Game - How to Play Part I - Part II - Part III. More material on the Italian Game chess opening to follow.
This lesson is divided into 2 parts:
I. Italian Game: Data and Variations
II. Italian Game Videos: See the Picture and How to Play
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I. Italian Game: Data and Variations
Chess Opening Name: Italian Game
Type: Open Game opening (starts with 1.e4 e5)
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
ECO Codes: C50, C53-C54
Note: ECO Codes C51-C52 are Evans Gambit, not Italian Game.
Italian Game: General Description
Italian Game is one of the oldest chess openings recorded. Its official name is Giuoco Piano. The opening is beautiful, useful for chess beginners to learn, and popular enough to play. It may easily transpose into Evans Gambit [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4], which is a different opening.
Italian Game is an unusual one because it may run quietly or it may be wild... Black must remember that White is aimed at the Black's weak f7 square and may quickly mobilize the force to attack. Both parties must be careful in play because Giuoco Piano ("Quite Game") may be not so quite...
To answer Italian Game, White has the following 5 moves: (*) 4.c3 - appr. 40%; (*) 4.d3 - appr. 20%; (*) 4.O-O - appr. 15%; (*) 4.Nc3 - appr. 15%; (*) 4.b4 - appr. 10%. Officially, Italian Game has at least 36 variations. You can find the most common variations below...
Italian Game: Some Variations
• Greco's Attack variation, C54:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
• Center-holding variation, C53:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6
• Canal variation, C50:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5
The magority of variations of Italian Game are played via the following 3 lines: 4.c3 .., the 4.d3 .., and the 4.0-0 .. Within Italian Game, there is a variation with 4.Bxf7+, but it is not being played today.
II. Italian Game Videos: See the Picture and How to Play
To understand this chess opening in general, you are recommended to replay Video 1: Italian Game - General Information. To see the Italian Game chess opening in a visible way and to learn it, click the Play button below:
• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.
To see Video 2: Italian Game - How to Play Part I, click this link:
• See Video 2: Italian Game - How to Play Part I
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display the 6.cxd4 line of Italian Game.
To see Video 3: Italian Game - How to Play Part II, click this link:
• See Video 3: Italian Game - How to Play Part II
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display Italian Four Knights variation.
To see Video 4: Italian Game - How to Play Part III, click this link:
• See Video 4: Italian Game - How to Play Part III
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display Greco's Attack variation of Italian Game.
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More material on Italian Game will be added later, and it must give you the essential initial knowledge on this chess opening. Please be advised that the chess opening material within this site is designed for chess beginners only.
