Italian Game

Evans Gambit, Anderssen DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 exd4

b4 gives a wing pawn to buy the centre with c3 and d4 a tempo up - White attacks before Black's extra pawn can matter. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.

Evans Gambit, Compromised DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3

Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file.

Evans Gambit, Dufresne DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3

Evans Gambit, Johner DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O b5

Evans Gambit, Lasker DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Bb6

The structure hands White the half-open b-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Evans Gambit, Mieses DefenseC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O Nge7

Evans Gambit, Sanders-Alapin VariationC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 Bd7

Evans Gambit, Richardson AttackC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 O-O 8. Nxe5

An early pawn trade leaves the b-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

Evans Gambit, Waller AttackC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d6 8. Qb3

Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense, Main LineC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Nxc3 Nge7 11. Ba3

White's pawn on g2 is pinned against the king.

Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense, Potter VariationC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Nxc3 Nge7 11. Rd1

Evans Gambit, Levenfish VariationC52

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 d6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. O-O Bb6 10. Ba3 Na5 11. Nxe5

The d-file is fully open.

Classical Variation, through 4. c3C53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3

The c4 bishop eyes f7 and both sides castle fast; the real fight starts when White engineers c3 and d4 and Black must decide how to meet the centre.

Classical Variation, Closed VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7

Bird's AttackC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4

Classical Variation, Center Holding VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Classical Variation, Mestel VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6 6. Bg5

Classical Variation, La Bourdonnais VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Classical Variation, Eisinger VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6 6. d5 Nb8 7. d6

White's pawn has already reached d6.

Classical Variation, Tarrasch VariationC53

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 5. d4 Bb6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 a6 8. h3 Nf6 9. Re1

Classical Variation, after 4... Nf6C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6

Classical Variation, Center AttackC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. c3, through 5. d3, line 1C54

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

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. c3, through 5... d6, line 2C54

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

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6, after 5... a6C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6

Classical Variation, with d5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d5

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6. c3, line 3C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 h6 6. c3

White's pawn on f2 is pinned against the king.

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6. c3, line 4C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Albin VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. b4

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a5 6. c3

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Dubov ItalianC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. b4

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line, through 6. e5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Traditional LineC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6... a5, line 5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a5

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6... a6, line 6C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6... Bb6, line 7C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 Bb6

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6... O-O, line 8C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 O-O

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 6... d5, line 9C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d5

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6, after 5... d6C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line, after 6... d5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. c3, through 7. O-O, line 10C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7. a4, line 11C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7. Re1, line 12C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7. Re1, line 13C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7. Nbd2, line 14C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Nbd2

Giuoco Piano, Cracow VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1

Giuoco Piano, Greco's AttackC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3

White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7... Ba7, line 15C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7... O-O, line 16C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, after 4. O-O, through 7... Ba7, line 17C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a4 a5C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 a5

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb4+

Black's knight on c6 is pinned against the king.

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3

The structure hands White the half-open c-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main LineC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3

Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd5 Nxf2 8. Kxf2 dxc3+ 9. Kg3

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Main LineC54

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

Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz AttackC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5

Giuoco Piano, Rosentreter VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. d4 Bxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. f4

The structure hands White the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it. The quiet game is a slow build: c3 prepares d4, Black holds the e5 point, and piece placement decides an even middlegame.

Giuoco Piano, Aitken VariationC54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Ba3

The e-file is fully open.