Italian Gambit

Template:Infobox chess opening The Italian Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Bc5

4. d4

It is often played as an alternative to the quiet and closed lines of the Giuoco Piano or Giuoco Pianissimo openings. Black can:

• take with the pawn (4...exd4), a transposition to the Scotch Gambit;
• take with the knight (4...Nxd4), which is considered weak since it allows 5.Nxe5, attacking f7 with the bishop and knight; or
• take with the bishop (4...Bxd4), which is considered best.

4...Bxd4

After 4...Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4:

• 6.0-0, favoured by George Koltanowski, transposes to the related gambit line 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 following 6...Nf6, when 7.f4 and 7.Bg5 are the main possibilities for White; however, 6...d6Template:Chesspunc is an independent alternative for Black.
• 6.Be3, dubbed the Miami Variation by Jude Acers and George Laven, is a way for White to deviate that probably suffices for dynamic Template:Chessgloss.
• 6.f4Template:Chesspunc is considered dubious due to 6...d6.

See also

• Italian Game
• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after places

References

• Template:Self-published inline

Template:Chess-opening-stub he:פתיחה איטלקית zh:意大利開局