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{{Short description|Chess opening}}
{{For|the Italian Opening|Giuoco Piano}}
{{Infobox chess opening
|openingname = Italian Game
|image = {{Chess diagram||
|rd|  |bd|qd|kd|bd|nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |nd|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |bl|  |pl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |nl|  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|  |  |rl
}}
|moves = 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
|ECO = C50–C59
|birth = 15th or 16th century
|nameorigin =
|parentopening = [[King's Knight Opening]]
|AKA =
|chessgid = 24145&move=3.5&moves=e4.e5.Nf3.Nc6.Bc4
}}

The '''Italian Game''' is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:

:1. [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4|e4]] [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5|e5]]
:2. [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3|Nf3]] [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6|Nc6]]
:3. [[b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4|Bc4]]

This opening is defined by the {{chessgloss|develop|development}} of the white bishop to c4 (the so-called "{{chessgloss|Italian bishop}}"), where it attacks Black's vulnerable f7-square. It is part of the large family of [[Open Game]]s or Double King's Pawn Games.

The Italian Game is one of the oldest recorded chess openings; it occurs in the [[Göttingen manuscript]] and was developed by players such as [[Pedro Damiano|Damiano]] and [[Giulio Polerio|Polerio]] in the 16th century, and later by [[Gioachino Greco|Greco]] in 1620, who gave the game its main line. It has been extensively analyzed for more than 300 years. 

The term ''Italian Game'' is sometimes used interchangeably with [[Giuoco Piano]], although the latter also refers particularly to play after 3...Bc5.{{sfnp|Harding|Botterill|1977|p=Preface|ps=: "In Europe this complex [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4] is known as the Italian Game, but Anglo-Saxon readers may be more familiar with the term Giuoco Piano for the lines where Black replies 3...Bc5."}}

The ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]'' gives the Italian Game ten codes: C50–C54 for the Giuoco Piano, and C55–C59 for the Two Knights Defense. Side lines are covered under C50.

{{AN chess|pos=toc}}

==Main variations==
Black's two main options are 3...Bc5, the [[Giuoco Piano]], and 3...Nf6, the [[Two Knights Defense]]. They are about equally popular,<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=24145&move=3.5&moves=e4.e5.Nf3.Nc6.Bc4&nodes=21720.21721.21722.21723.24145 Chessgames opening explorer, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4]</ref> but the resulting positions usually have a very different character.
{{Div flex row|justify-content=left}}
{{Chess diagram |tleft|
|rd|  |bd|qd|kd|  |nd|rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |nd|  |  |  |  |  
|  |  |bd|  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |bl|  |pl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |nl|  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|  |  |rl
|Giuoco Piano 3...Bc5
}}
{{Chess diagram |tleft|
|rd|  |bd|qd|kd|bd|  |rd
|pd|pd|pd|pd|  |pd|pd|pd
|  |  |nd|  |  |nd|  |  
|  |  |  |  |pd|  |  |  
|  |  |bl|  |pl|  |  |  
|  |  |  |  |  |nl|  |  
|pl|pl|pl|pl|  |pl|pl|pl
|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|  |  |rl
|Two Knights Defense 3...Nf6
}}
{{Div flex row end}}

===3...Bc5===
{{main|Giuoco Piano}}
Until the 19th century, this line was the main line of the Italian Game. Dubbed the [[Giuoco Piano]] ("Quiet Game") in contrast to the more aggressive lines then being developed, this continues 4.d3, the positional [[Giuoco Pianissimo]] ("Very Quiet Game"), or the main line 4.c3 (the original Giuoco Piano) leading to positions first analyzed by Greco in the 17th century, and revitalized at the turn of the 20th by the Moller Attack. 4.0-0 will usually transpose into the Giuoco Pianissimo after 4...Nf6 5.d3, while 4.Nc3 Nf6 is a {{chessgloss|transposition}} into the [[Four Knights Game]].

Another option for White is the aggressive [[Evans Gambit]] (4.b4), a popular opening in the 19th century which is still occasionally played. The [[Italian Gambit]] (4.d4) may transpose into the [[Scotch Gambit]] after 4...exd4; however, this move order allows Black the option of 4...Bxd4, so if White wants a Scotch Gambit, 3.d4 is usually preferred. The [[Jerome Gambit]] (4.Bxf7+) is unsound.
{{clear}}
===3...Nf6===
{{main|Two Knights Defense}}
3...Nf6 is the more aggressive [[Two Knights Defense]]. This is more in the nature of a counterattack, and some (e.g. [[David Bronstein|Bronstein]]) have proposed it be renamed so.

If White attempts to exploit the weakness of Black's f7-pawn with 4.Ng5, Black may try the knife-edged Traxler/Wilkes-Barre Variation (4...Bc5{{chesspunc|!?}}). After the more common 4...d5 5.exd5, Black generally avoids 5...Nxd5 allowing 6.Nxf7, the Fegatello or [[Fried Liver Attack]], or 6.d4, the [[Giambattista Lolli|Lolli]] Variation, both of which are difficult to defend under practical conditions. Most common is 5...Na5, sacrificing a pawn for an active position. The very sharp Fritz Variation (5...Nd4) and the closely related Ulvestad Variation (5...b5) lead to wild positions with little margin for error for either side.

A {{chessgloss|quiet move|quieter}} option for White is 4.d3, when Black's main options are 4...Bc5, transposing into the Giuoco Pianissimo, and the solid 4...Be7, which is likely to lead to similar positions to the [[Bishop's Opening]].

Alternatively, White can play 4.d4, which may lead to the [[Scotch Gambit]] after the usual reply 4...exd4.

==Uncommon 3rd moves for Black==
*3...Be7 ([[Hungarian Defense]]). A solid, drawish defense which is occasionally seen in tournament play to avoid the complexities and risks of the other lines.
*3...d6 ([[Semi-Italian Opening]]). Another solid positional line, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but rarely seen today.
*3...g6. Allows White to attack with 4.d4 (4.d3 has also been tried) 4...exd4 5.c3{{chesspunc|!}} (5.Nxd4 and 5.Bg5 are also possible) 5...dxc3 6.Nxc3 Bg7 and now 7.Qb3 ([[Wolfgang Unzicker|Unzicker]]) or 7.Bg5 ([[Albéric O'Kelly de Galway|O'Kelly]]).
*3...Nd4 ([[Italian Game, Blackburne Shilling Gambit|Blackburne Shilling Gambit]]). This ostensibly weak third move is a false [[gambit]] expectant upon White falling into the trap of capturing Black's undefended pawn (4.Nxe5{{chesspunc|?!}} Qg5). While generally considered time-wasting against more experienced players due to 4.Nxd4! exd4 5.c3, it has [[:wikt:ensnare|ensnared]] many chess novices and can provide a quick and easy [[Checkmate|mate]] against players unfamiliar with the line.
*3...f5 ([[Italian Game, Rousseau Gambit|Rousseau Gambit]]). White does best to avoid the pawn offer with 4.d3 or 4.d4.
*3...Qf6. After 3...Qf6?! 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.Nb5 White has a clear advantage (Unzicker).
*3...h6. Neglects Black's {{chessgloss|development}} and is generally considered a waste of time;<ref>Tim Harding, ''Better Chess for Average Players'', p 156, Courier 2012, {{ISBN|9780486133690}}</ref> however, the move has no immediate refutation and has been tried by Czech grandmaster [[Pavel Blatny]].<ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1030066 Svidler vs. Blatny, Gausdal 1992]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Chess opening]]
*''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]''
*[[List of chess openings]]
*[[List of chess openings named after places]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*[[David Bronstein|Bronstein, David]] (1991). ''200 Open Games''. Reprint Dover Publications, 1973. {{ISBN|0-486-26857-8}}.
*{{cite book
 |last=Burgess |first=Graham |author-link = Graham Burgess
 |title=The Mammoth Book of Chess 
 |publisher=Carroll & Graf 
 |year=2000 
 |edition=2nd
 |isbn=978-0-7867-0725-6}}
*[[Yakov Estrin|Estrin, Yakov]] (1983). ''The Two Knights Defence''. {{ISBN|0-7134-3991-2}}.
*{{cite book |author1-link=Tim Harding (chess) |last1=Harding |first1=Tim |author2-link=George Botterill |first2=G. S. |last2=Botterill |date=1977 |title=The Italian Game |publisher=Batsford |isbn=0-7134-3261-6}}
*[[David Levy (chess player)|Levy, David]]; O'Donnell, K. (1981). '' Oxford Encyclopaedia of Chess Games Vol I (1485-1866)''.  {{ISBN|0-19-217571-8}}.
*[[Aleksandar Matanović|Matanović, Aleksandar]] (1981). ''[[Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings]]'' Vol C. {{ISBN|0-7134-2697-7}}.
*[[Vladimir Zagorovsky|Zagororovsky, Zagorovsky]] (1982). ''Romantic Chess Openings''. {{ISBN|0-7134-3623-9}}.

==Further reading==
{{wikibooks|Chess Opening Theory|1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4|Italian Game}}
*{{Citation
 |last=Colins|first=Sam
 |year=2005
 |title=Understanding the Chess Openings 
 |publisher = [[Gambit Publications]]
 |isbn=1-904600-28-X
}}

{{chess|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Chess openings]]