1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
The Italian Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4) is one of the oldest recorded chess openings, aiming the bishop at the vulnerable f7-square. It leads to open, tactical positions where both sides can develop naturally and fight for the center.
Position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 O-O 8. a4 Ba7 9. Nbd2 h6 10. h3 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Ng3 d5
Analyse final position1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7 Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Rh4 f5
Analyse final position1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Qc7 11. d4 exd3 12. Nxd3 Bd6
Analyse final position1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O Nge7 8. cxd4 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. Ba3 O-O 12. Nc3 Be6
Analyse final positionAnalyzed by Italian masters in the 16th century, including Greco and Polerio, the Italian Game has experienced a massive renaissance in modern chess, becoming a top choice of Caruana, Anand, and So.