Italian Game

Play as WhiteClassical

Develop quickly and aim the bishop at f7, the weakest square in Black's camp.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Bb3 Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8

  1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
  2. 1... e5 — Black claims the center too.
  3. 2. Nf3 — Develop a knight and attack the e5 pawn.
  4. 2... Nc6 — Black defends the e5 pawn while developing a knight.
  5. 3. Bc4 — Aim the bishop at f7, Black's weakest square.
  6. 3... Bc5 — Black develops the bishop and eyes f2 in return.
  7. 4. c3 — Prepare d4 to build a big center.
  8. 4... Nf6 — Develop the knight and attack the e4 pawn.
  9. 5. d3 — A solid, quiet move: it supports e4 and frees the c1 bishop.
  10. 5... d6 — Support e5 and free the c8 bishop.
  11. 6. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
  12. 6... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
  13. 7. Re1 — Put the rook behind the e-pawn to support e4.
  14. 7... a6 — Make room for the bishop to retreat to a7.
  15. 8. Bb3 — Retreat the bishop so it keeps aiming at f7 and cannot be chased.
  16. 8... Ba7 — Keep the bishop on the diagonal, out of the way of d4.
  17. 9. h3 — Stop ...Bg4, so the knight on f3 cannot be pinned.
  18. 9... h6 — Stop Bg5 and Ng5 ideas and make room for the king.
  19. 10. Nbd2 — Develop the last knight and head for f1 and g3.
  20. 10... Re8 — Put the rook behind the e5 pawn.

Other sound lines

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