White develops fast and points a bishop at f7, the one square only the king defends. You play the setup, both replies, and a full game against an opponent that mirrors you.
Start here
0
Chapter 1: The Setup
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Black to move.
Every opening is a fight over these four middle squares, because a piece that stands in the middle reaches the whole board in a move or two.
White moves first, so you claim e4 before they can. The same push opens the way out for your bishop and queen.
Your move: Push the pawn in front of your king two squares, to e4, and take your first middle square.
1.e4 Try the pawn in front of your king — two steps to e4 grabs the middle.
Your move: They answer with e5, and the two pawns block each other. Bring your king's knight out to f3, where it attacks their e5 pawn.
2.Nf3 Hop the knight to f3 — it develops and attacks e5 in one go.
Your move: Their knight guards e5, answering the threat. Now move your bishop to c4, where its diagonal runs all the way to f7.
3.Bc4 Slide the bishop to c4 — its diagonal points straight at f7.
Question: Your bishop on c4 stares at f7. Why that square?
Answer: Only their king defends it. Count f7's helpers — the king stands alone behind it. Every other pawn near their king has a helper. f7 leans on the king alone, and your bishop leans on f7 from move three.
That is the Italian Game: e4, Nf3, and the bishop to c4. Three moves, all pointed at the middle and at f7.
They can mirror your bishop to c5 or hit back at e4 with a knight on f6. You will learn both answers, starting with the mirror.
Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.h3 O-O 7.O-O a6 8.Re1 Ba7 9.Nbd2. Black to move.
Their knight jumps to f6 and attacks your e4 pawn instead of mirroring. This is the Two Knights Defense.
One small pawn step holds everything: d3 guards e4 and keeps the game calm. Your plan for this chapter is the full quiet setup, ending with your king castled.
Your move: Push your d-pawn one square to d3 and guard the e4 pawn.
4.d3 One small step — d3 props up e4.
Your move: Their bishop lands on c5. Push your c-pawn to c3 — it prepares d4 and takes squares from their knight.
5.c3 Quiet but useful — c3 preps d4 and keeps their knight out of b4 and d4.
Your move: They prop up e5 with d6. Push your h-pawn to h3 so their bishop can never pin your f3 knight.
6.h3 Little h3 shuts the g4 square — no pin on your knight.
Your move: They castle, and your king goes next. Castle by moving your king two squares right.
7.O-O Time to castle — slide your king two squares to the right.
Your move: They play a6. Slide your rook to e1, behind the e4 pawn, ready for the middle to open.
8.Re1 Rook to e1 — it stands behind e4 and waits for the file to open.
Your move: Their bishop tucks back to a7. Bring your last knight to d2, headed for the kingside.
9.Nbd2 Knight to d2 — it will re-route through f1 toward their king.
Question: So what is the plan in the quiet Italian?
Answer: Pieces out, castle, keep the d4 break ready. No pawn is hanging — the quiet setup wins later, not now. Everything is developed and your king is safe. The d4 push and the knight tour to their king are both ready whenever you choose.
Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4. Black to move.
Bishop back to e7 is the Hungarian Defense. It is solid, but it fights for nothing — no counter on e4, no grip on d4.
When they pass on the middle, you take all of it. Push d4 and the game opens on your terms.
Your move: Push your d-pawn two squares to d4 and claim the middle they gave up.
4.d4 They passed on the middle — d4 takes it.
Your move: They trade pawns on d4. Take back with your knight, landing it in the middle.
5.Nxd4 Knight takes on d4 — it recaptures and lands in the middle in one move.
Question: So how do you punish the passive bishop on e7?
Answer: Take the whole middle with d4. When they skip the fight for the middle, you take it — that is the punishment. The bishop on e7 never touches d4, so the middle was free. Your pawn and knight own it, and their bishop stares at its own pawns.
Final challenge: The Mirror (800 Elo)
The opponent says: I'll copy your best setup. Show me the pawn wave.
Your tasks in the game, in order:
Aim your bishop at f7 by moving it to c4.
Start the pawn wave — push your c-pawn to c3.
Break the middle open with pawn to d4.
Take back on d4 with your c-pawn.
Position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4. Black to move.
History of the Italian Game
The Italian Game begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 and is classified under ECO C50 through C54. Its name reflects the Italian players and analysts who developed its early theory. The opening appeared in major chess writing by the late sixteenth century and became a standard branch of open-game play.
Main ideas for White
White occupies e4, develops the knight to f3 against e5, and places the bishop on c4 along the diagonal toward f7. Against 3...Bc5, c3 supports the central d4 break and controls b4 and d4. Against 3...Nf6, d3 protects e4 while White castles, places a rook on e1, and prepares d4. Black usually develops quickly, contests d4, and seeks counterplay against e4.
Typical plans
The Giuoco Piano often keeps pawns on e4 and e5 until White prepares c3 and d4, while quieter lines add d3 before the break. White can route the queenside knight through d2 and f1 toward g3, support e4 with Re1, and use the c4 bishop against f7. Black often gains queenside space with a6 and b5 or challenges the center with d5, while White may open the center with d4.
Common mistakes
Do not attack f7 before completing development; castle first and use the bishop pressure to support a later central break.
Do not play d4 without enough support in quiet structures; prepare it with c3, Re1, or both when the position requires them.
Do not allow Bg4 to pin the f3 knight without considering it; play h3 when the pin would interfere with your central plans.
Related openings
Ruy Lopez1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. Lean on the one knight holding up their middle.
Vienna Game1.e4 e5 2.Nc3. Knight out first, f-pawn free to charge.
King's Gambit1.e4 e5 2.f4. Spend a pawn, own the middle and an open file.
Scotch Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4. Break the middle open on move three.
Caro-Kann Defense1.e4 c6. Answer 1.e4 with a middle pawn that arrives guarded.
French Defense1.e4 e6. One pawn guards, the next one strikes the middle.
