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1.Opening

Italian Game

You play WhiteC50ClassicalBeginner

The perfect first opening. Fast development, the bishop aims at f7, and the plans are easy to understand.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 …

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Giuoco Pianissimo: position after 9 moves8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Giuoco Pianissimo: position after 9 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. Bishop on c4 targets f7, the weakest square near Black's king.
  2. c3 + d3 builds a solid center; d4 comes later when it's well prepared.
  3. Classic maneuver: Nb1–d2–f1–g3 to join a kingside attack.
  4. Castle early, then Re1 to support e4 and the center.
3.Main line

Main line · 17 moves

Giuoco Pianissimo

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4Grabs the center and opens diagonals for the queen and the light-squared bishop. The most popular first move in chess.
e5Black mirrors White, claiming an equal share of the center and freeing their own queen and bishop.
2
Nf3Develops toward the center and immediately attacks the e5 pawn. Knights before bishops is a good rule of thumb.
Nc6Defends e5 while developing a knight to its most natural square. Black also gains control of d4.
3
Bc4The Italian bishop. It points straight at f7 — the weakest square in Black's camp because only the king defends it.
Bc5Black copies the idea, placing the bishop on an active diagonal aimed at f2.
After 3…Bc5
After 3…Bc5
No. White Black4
c3Prepares d4 to build a big pawn center. It also takes away b4 and d4 from Black's pieces.
Nf6Develops and counterattacks e4, so White can't simply push d4 without first looking after that pawn.
5
d3The "Giuoco Pianissimo" (very quiet game): White calmly protects e4 and builds slowly instead of opening the position early.
d6Supports e5 and opens the diagonal for the c8 bishop.
6
O-OKing to safety and the rook steps toward the center.
O-OBlack does the same.
After 6…O-O
After 6…O-O
No. White Black7
Re1The rook backs up e4 and supports a future d3–d4 break.
a6Prepares ...Ba7, so the c5 bishop has a safe home if White plays d4 or b4 to chase it.
8
Bb3Steps back before Black can gain time with ...b5 or ...d5, while still eyeing f7.
Ba7Tucks the bishop onto a safe square where it keeps aiming at f2.
9
Nbd2The start of a famous maneuver: the knight goes d2–f1–g3, joining the kingside without blocking anything.
After 9.Nbd2
After 9.Nbd2
4.Play

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5.More

Articles about the Italian Game

More 1.e4 openings