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Italian Game 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
The Italian Game starts with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 and is catalogued under ECO C50. It belongs to the open games and French section of the book. The catalog indexes 184 lines inside it, grouped into 156 named variations. The position after those moves has 7 playable continuations to walk from here.
Interactive lessons Italian Game
30 min · 12 steps · 6 questions
Two Knights Defense
23 min · 12 steps · 7 questions
Evans Gambit
30 min · 10 steps · 6 questions
Opening repertoire map Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Open Italian Game position Study Italian Game position Collapse Italian Game continuations
Show replies after Bc5 — Giuoco Piano Study Bc5 — Giuoco Piano position Expand Bc5 — Giuoco Piano continuations
Show replies after Nf6 — Two Knights Defense Study Nf6 — Two Knights Defense position Expand Nf6 — Two Knights Defense continuations
Show replies after Be7 — Hungarian Defense Study Be7 — Hungarian Defense position Expand Be7 — Hungarian Defense continuations
Open d6 — Paris Defense position Study d6 — Paris Defense position Expand d6 — Paris Defense continuations
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1. e4
Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.
Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.
1… e5
Meets White’s center directly and opens lines for Black’s queen and bishop.
Idea: Fight for equal central space in a balanced, open position.
2. Nf3
Develops the king’s knight and attacks Black’s e5-pawn.
Idea: Increase central pressure while getting ready to castle.
2… Nc6
Defends e5 while developing the queen’s knight toward the center.
Idea: Hold the central pawn and keep several classical setups available.
3. Bc4
Develops the bishop onto an active diagonal aimed at f7.
Idea: Accelerate kingside development and make Black’s weakest early square a target.
Book continuations Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
7 moves Bc5 Italian Game: Giuoco Piano 94 named lines · Italian Game: Deutz Gambit · Italian Game: Evans Gambit Develops the bishop to c5, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nf6 Italian Game: Two Knights Defense 53 named lines · Italian Game: Scotch Gambit · Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Be7 Italian Game: Hungarian Defense 3 named lines · Scotch Game: Benima Defense · Italian Game: Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation Develops the bishop to e7, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d6 Italian Game: Paris Defense 1 named line Advances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares. Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f5 Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit 1 named line Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.h6 Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense 1 named line Advances the h-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nd4 Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit 1 named line Repositions the knight to d4, where it influences a new part of the board. Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.Named variations Each line below is an indexed entry under Italian Game. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
Italian Game C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Anti-Fried Liver Defense C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 h6 Blackburne-Kostić Gambit C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nd4 Giuoco Piano C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 Openings from the same volume ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Italian Game.
C o dy Clear chess coaching, right beside the board.
i Hungarian Defense C50
e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Be7
Paris Defense C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 d6
Rousseau Gambit C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 f5
Two Knights Defense C55 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6
Classical Variation C53 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 c3
Evans Gambit C51 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 b4
Giuoco Pianissimo C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 d3
Jerome Gambit C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 Bxf7+
Rosentreter Gambit C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 d4
Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack C57 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 Ng5
Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening C55 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 d3
Two Knights Defense, Open Variation C56 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 d4
Classical Variation, Closed Variation C53 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 c3 Qe7
Evans Gambit Accepted C51 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 b4 Bxb4
Evans Gambit Declined C51 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 b4 Bb6
Evans Gambit, Fontaine Countergambit C51 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 b4 b5
Evans Gambit, Hein Countergambit C51 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 b4 d5
Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5 d3 f5
Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal C50 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 d3 Bc5
Scotch Invitation Declined C56 e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6 d4 d6 Open games & French
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132 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.