All openings
You're WhiteEasy to start7 lines
Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · C50–C55
The Italian puts a bishop on c4, aimed at f7, and then does something sneaky for such an old attacking opening: it waits. You'll build the same quiet setup against almost everything Black tries, so what you learn this Tuesday still works next month. It's for players who'd rather know one plan well than memorise a forest of variations.
Three ideas to hold on to
- 1. Aim at f7, then build slowly: c3, d3, castle, Re1.
- 2. Send the b1 knight the long way round, d2 to f1 to g3, toward Black's king.
- 3. Keep d4 in your pocket and play it when your pieces are ready for it.
The lines
Each line ends on your move. Five clean runs, spaced out, and it’s booked.
Giuoco Pianissimo: the main line
6…a6 7.a4
Giuoco Pianissimo: the early …Bg4 pin
6…Bg4 7.h3
Giuoco Pianissimo: Black strikes with …d5
5…d5 6.exd5
Two Knights: the quiet 4.d3
3…Nf6 4.d3
Hungarian Defence: 3…Be7
3…Be7 4.d3
Blackburne Shilling Gambit: 3…Nd4
3…Nd4 4.Nxd4
3…d6 and an early …Bg4
3…d6 4.c3