Openings 1.e4 e5: open games
Italian Game: Main Lines, Plans and Traps by Rating
3.Bc4 points the bishop at f7, the one square only Black’s king defends. From here the game goes two ways: a slow build-up with d3 and c3 (the Giuoco Pianissimo), or a sharp fight after 3...Nf6 4.Ng5.
C50Italian Game
Games from this position (1600–1999): 254k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36% | 91k | ||
| 31% | 80k | ||
| 11% | 27k | ||
| 7% | 18k | ||
| 5% | 13k | ||
| 5% | 11k | ||
| 3% | 8,673 | ||
| 0.5% | 1,156 | ||
| 0.3% | 707 | ||
| 0.3% | 691 | ||
| <0.1% | 169 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Castle early, then choose c3 + d4 for a big center or d3 for a slow, safe game.
- In the slow lines the knight travels Nbd2–f1–g3 and the a-pawn goes to a4 to stop ...b5.
- 4.Ng5 only makes sense after 3...Nf6, when the f6 knight blocks the queen’s path to g5. After 3...Bc5, 4.Ng5? Qxg5 just wins the knight.
Black
- 3...Bc5 copies White and fights for d4; 3...Nf6 counter-attacks e4 straight away.
- The freeing break is ...d5. If you get it in safely, you are equal.
- After 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, play 5...Na5. The natural 5...Nxd5 leaves f7 open to 6.Nxf7 or 6.d4.
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Italian Game at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 176k5.8% | 3...Nf639% | |
| 1200–1599 | 347k5.8% | 3...Nf633% | |
| 1600–1999 | 254k4.0% | 3...Bc536% | |
| 2000+ | 48k2.4% | 3...Nf644% | |
| All | 825k4.7% | 3...Nf634% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White builds a full center. Black hits back with ...exd4 and ...d5 or pressure on e4.
23k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 54%, 4% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4White gives the e4 pawn for a fast attack: after 7...Nxe4 8.O-O the lead in development is large and the e-file opens. 7.Bd2 is the calmer choice.
3,222 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 4% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-OThe modern main line: c3 prepares d4 one day, d3 keeps e4 safe now. A slow game where both sides maneuver.
2,371 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 11% were drawn, Black won 40%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-OBoth sides castle with pawns on d3 and d6. White’s usual plan is c3, a4, Re1 and the knight route Nbd2–f1–g3; Black answers with ...a6, ...Ba7 and ...Ne7–g6.
31k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.O-OThe main answer to Ng5: Black gives a pawn, chases the bishop and gets fast development. The Two Knights Defense has its own guide.
26k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 3% were drawn, Black won 50%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5White gives the b-pawn to gain time for c3 and d4, aiming at f7 and the black king.
15k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 3% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4A reversed King’s Gambit idea. The calm 4.d3 is best: e4 is held and Black’s king side is loose.
991 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 4% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3
Common traps
The 3...Nd4 trick
3...Nd4 seems to drop e5, and 4.Nxe5 is a fine move, but only if you follow 4...Qg5 with 5.Ng4 or 5.Bxf7+. The greedy 5.Nxf7? loses: 5...Qxg2 6.Rf1 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3 is mate. The quiet 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O is also good.
In our data, the last move of this line was played in 1,000 games.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 4.Nxe5 Qg5 5.Nxf7 Qxg2 6.Rf1 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Nf3#(ends in mate)Advertisement
At club level
In club games the Italian is often decided by tactics on f7 and e5 in the first ten moves rather than by deep theory. As Black, know 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 and what to do against both 4.d3 and c3–d4; as White, know the c3–d4 plan and when Ng5 is safe.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- King’s Pawn Game: 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5
- King’s Knight Opening: 2.Nf3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
- Bishop’s Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
- Philidor Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
- Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
- Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5