Italian GameC58

Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bishop Check Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+

Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

The c4-bishop eyes f7, Black's weakest point. The modern plan is patient: c3 and d3, castle, then the Nb1-d2-f1-g3 maneuver, and finally d4 when everything is ready. The slow Italian is a Spanish that owns it.

Black's plan

...Bc5 or ...Nf6 develop toward the center. Black mirrors the plan: ...d6, ...a6, ...Ba7, and prepare ...d5, the classical equalizer of every Italian game.

The line, move by move

1. e4e4 occupies the center.
... e5e5 occupies the center.
2. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... Nc6Nc6 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
3. Bc4Bc4 develops the bishop and controls d5.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
4. Ng5Ng5 controls e4.
... d5d5 attacks the bishop, strikes at the center.
5. exd5exd5 captures a pawn, attacks the knight, occupies the center.
... Na5Na5 repositions the knight.
6. Bb5+Bb5+ gives check.

Open on the interactive board

Other major variations

The complete Italian Game guide See all 187 variations in the branch map