Italian Game
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- This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
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The Italian Game is a chess opening, or more accurately a family of chess openings, characterized by the moves:
Black will usually respond with 3...Bc5, the Giuoco Piano; 3...Nf6, the Two Knights Defense; or 3...Be7, the Hungarian Defence. Other moves, including 3...d6, occasionally played by Alekhine; 3...Nd4?!, the Blackburne Shilling Gambit; and 3...f5?!, the Rousseau Gambit, are rarely seen. The term "Italian Game" is also sometimes used to refer specifically to the Giuoco Piano.
The openings arising from the Italian Game are among the oldest recorded openings. The Giuoco Piano (Italian: "quiet game") was played by the Portuguese Pedro Damiano at the beginning of the 15th century, and the Italian Greco at the beginning of the 16th century. The Italian Game received its name because of Greco's work, while Damiano has the misfortune to have his name attached to the Damiano Defence, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6?, a line he rightly condemned. The Two Knights Defence was analyzed by Giulio Cesare Polerio (c.1550–c.1610) in 1580.
[edit] References
- Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion To Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
- Exeter Chess Club: The Italian Game for Beginners
