This article will first summarize the most important ideas of the Italian Game after which the diagram will be used to replay the main variations of this opening.
The Italian game is a very popular opening, especially with kids. The opening is played very strict by the Rules for the opening. In this opening both players are trying to gain control over the centre. White tries to accomplish this goal by means of moves like 4.c3 and 5.d4. Black will also try to get his share of the centre or to break up White’s pawns by means of a move like …d5.
For both White and Black it is important to develop the pieces as soon as possible. In addition White will try to aim his Bishop at the weak f7, but in most games White will not be able to start the attack soon enough to catch the Black King in the middle. Both players are going to castle to safety before the attack starts.
Try to place a Rook on the central lines, especially when these lines are open. Eventually this may turn out to be the decisive advantage in the endgame.
Because of the symmetry almost all ideas are also applicable for Black.
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ItalianGame |
( 4.d3 d6 is called the Giuoco Pianissimo, which means ‘very quiet game’. The opening in itself isn’t wrong, but the position is blocked in such a way that it often results in rather dull games. Therefor I prefer to see 4.c3 or 3.d4!. 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6
( It is also possible for White to play 7.Bh4 after which Black can continue with 7...g5 8.Bg3 to create space for the attack at the white King. It is important for Black to pay attention to the safety of his own King. )
( 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 White succeeded in placing two pawns in the centre. Black has to react. 6... Bb4+
( In general 7...Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5 11.Ne5+ Ke6 12.Qxb4 is seen as worse for Black, but after 12...Qf8 13.Qxf8 Rxf8 I have the impression that the position is rather playable. The loss of the possibility to castle isn’t very important after the exchange of the queens. )
If you want to learn more about this opening I can recommend the articles of The Exeter Chess Club. The index for this opening may be a good place to start.
The lessons on this site continue with some lessons on pawn endgames: the Knight pawn, the Rook pawn and Key squares. After these lessons we will revisit the Italian Game with a Trap in the Italian Game: the Blackburne Shilling Gambit.
June 22nd, 2007 at 4:16 pm
A key version of the Italian Game is 4. b4!? the Evans Gambit. Called God’s gift to chess, because it makes the Italian game exciting again.
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:05 pm
You’re right.
I am planning to tell something about gambits later.
January 18th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
The Exeter Chess club link is broken.
Should now be:
http://www.exeterchessclub.org.....l_ToC.html
January 19th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
@Simon
I have updated the link. It seemed that the old link was still working, but redirected to the new one.