Italian Game

The Italian Game, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, puts the bishop on its most aggressive square, aimed at f7. From here White chooses between the quiet Giuoco Pianissimo with d3, the Classical Italian with c3 and d4, the Evans Gambit with 4.b4, and the sharp Two Knights lines after 3...Nf6. It is the most popular opening in our data, with more puzzles than any other family except the Sicilian.

One mistake dominates: the bishop sacrifice on f7 without a follow-up. After 3...Bc5 4.d4 Bxd4 5.c3 Bb6, White plays 6.Bxf7+? and after 6...Kxf7 none of the follow-up checks works: White has given a bishop for a pawn. The Evans Gambit produces the same error twice in our top five: after 4.b4 Nxb4 5.c3 Nc6 6.O-O h6 7.Bxf7+? Kxf7, and after 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Bxf7+? Kxf7. Even in the quiet 3...Be7 4.d3 Nf6, the sacrifice 5.Bxf7+? Kxf7 just loses a piece.

Why is it so common? Because the real versions of the idea are so well known: the Fried Liver and Légal's Mate both start with a piece on f7. The difference is what follows. A sacrifice on f7 works when the next check brings a real threat with it; without that, the black king simply takes and walks to safety.

Black's typical mistake is a loose knight. After 3...h6 4.d3 Nge7 5.Nc3, the attack on the bishop with 5...Na5? leaves e5 undefended, and 6.Nxe5 wins a pawn with threats on f7.

The Italian Game study explains the main lines and plans. The Fried Liver Attack, the Blackburne Shilling Trap and the Giuoco Piano Centre Trap each have their own page.