RSS
Home | chess opening | Italian Game
|
|
|
:1. e4 e5 :2. Nf3 Nc6 :3. Bc4 The Italian Game is one of the oldest recorded chess openings; it occurs in the Göttingen manuscript and was developed by players such as Damiano and Polerio in the 16th century, and later by Greco in 1620, who gave the game its main line. It has been extensively analyzed for more than 300 years. The term Italian Game is now used interchangeably with Giuoco Piano, though that term also refers particularly to play after 3…Bc5. It is regarded as an Open Game, or Double King's Pawn game. The game's defining move is the White king's bishop's move to c4 (the so-called "Italian bishop") in preparation for an early attack on Black's vulnerable f7 square. As such the game is typified by aggressive play, where Black's best chances are often vigorous counter-attacks. Because of the large body of theory to be mastered, with little scope for novelty, and the risks involved in the tactical nature of the play, most tournament players when confronted with 3.Bc4 prefer to opt for a solid, if drawish defence such as 3... Be7, or, in the past, 3... d6. However, the Italian Game is still popular in correspondence chess, where both players have access to theory, and in amateur games. |