Italian Game

ECO C50-C59intermediate

The Italian Game begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, aiming the bishop at Black's weakest square, f7. It is one of the oldest recorded openings and remains a top choice at every level because the plans are logical: develop quickly, castle short, and fight for the center with c3 and d4. Club players get attacking chances through the Evans Gambit and Fried Liver structures, while the quiet Giuoco Pianissimo is a staple even in elite play.

Train as White Train as Black Explore all variations

Main line

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

Right away you push your pawn two squares to e4, a great way to start. This brave little pawn stands tall in the middle, grabbing space and helping you control the busy center. A super first move!
Black answers by marching the e-pawn up to e5, a dark square in the center. Now both sides have a pawn planted in the middle, staring at each other. It's a fair and balanced start to the game, with each player claiming a piece of the center.
White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move that helps get your pieces into the game!
Black moves their knight from b8 to c6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game.
You moved your bishop from its home square to a new spot. This is a great developing move! It gets your piece into the game and ready for action.
Black moves their knight from g8 to f6. This is a great developing move! It brings a piece out from the corner and helps control the middle of the board.
Slide the d-pawn one square to d3, a light square. This quiet little step opens a path for your bishop on c1 and gives your bishop on c4 a steady home. A calm, solid move that keeps your strong center firm.
Black moves their bishop from f8 to c5. This is a good developing move that gets a strong piece into the game.
White moves their king from e1 to g1. This is a special move called kingside castling. It's a good developing move that helps keep your king safe!
Black nudges the d-pawn forward to d6, a dark square. This guards the pawn on e5 and frees the bishop on c8 to come out later. It's a careful, sturdy move that keeps Black's position nice and tidy.
White moves a pawn from c2 to c3. This is a small, safe step forward.
Black prepares ...b5 to challenge White's bishop on c4. This pawn move does not develop a piece and creates a potential weakness on b6.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	108	46.3%	7.4%	46.3%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O
600-800	779	46.6%	3.5%	49.9%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3
800-1000	316	52.8%	2.5%	44.6%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
1000-1200	122	59%	5.7%	35.2%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
1200-1400	2,839	49%	2.4%	48.5%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
1400-1600	5,279	49%	2.8%	48.2%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
1600-1800	664	50.3%	4.2%	45.5%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
1800-2000	854	48%	5%	47%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
2000-2200	864	45.4%	5%	49.7%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6
2200-2400	630	46.5%	6.5%	47%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

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

a4 — played 15% of the time (White wins 51%, draws 3%, Black wins 46%)
b4 — played 13.3% of the time (White wins 45.5%, draws 2.6%, Black wins 52%)
Bb3 — played 13% of the time (White wins 51.5%, draws 2%, Black wins 46.5%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Is the Italian Game good for beginners?

Yes — it is widely considered the best first opening for new players. Every move follows a clear principle: control the center, develop a piece, castle early. Unlike sharper openings, a small inaccuracy rarely loses on the spot, and the ideas you learn (pressure on f7, the c3+d4 pawn break) transfer to many other openings.

What is the main line of the Italian Game?

The most common continuation is 3...Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo, where White builds slowly with d3, h3 and Re1 before expanding with d4. The sharper alternative is 3...Nf6, the Two Knights Defense, when 4.Ng5 leads to the famous Fried Liver Attack complex.

How do you counter the Italian Game as Black?

Black's most reliable setups are 3...Bc5 followed by ...Nf6, ...d6 and ...a6 with a comfortable mirror position, or the more combative Two Knights with 3...Nf6. Knowing the tactics around f7 and the ...d5 counter-strike in the center is essential before entering the Two Knights.