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Openings: Italian Game

Openings: Italian Game

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The Italian is by far one of the most popular openings that beginners are introduced to because of the quick development in this particular opening. You prepare to castle kingside, develop your queenside pieces and connect your rooks and eventually, starting an attack if you can. This opening also has many branches like the Traxler Counterattack, Fried Liver Attack and the Giuoco Piano Game. This blog will talk about the basics of the Italian Game and if you want me to break down the branches of the Italian Game or another opening, request it to me and I'll try to get it done. Now, into the Italian Game...

This blog isn't here to explain theory, that would have to spend maybe a year or so. If you here to know theory, sorry but wrong post. 

The Italian Game is classified as e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4

The point of this opening is to aim at the weak f7 pawn only protected by the king. There are many branches of the Italian Game but the three most popular moves from black against the Italian (from my experience) is Bc5, the Giuoco Piano, Nf6, the Two Knights Defense and d6, which opens the light squared bishop but blocks the dark squared bishop. I'll start with the Giuoco Piano Game. 

Giuoco Piano Game

The Giuoco Piano Game goes e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Bc5

Bc5 also aims at the f-pawn only protected by the white king but there is no knight on f6 ready to jump to g4. After black plays Bc5, white has options after this. White can play...

4. c3 (Main Line), to play d3 or to prepare d4

4. d3, to open up the dark squared bishop for white

4. O-O, which brings the king to safety and brings the rook to the middle files

or 4. Nc3, which develops a piece but could transpose to a four knights of backs plays 4...Nf6

From all of the lines above, I would recommend c3 or d3 because you build the pawns to support the center. Nc3 you can play but already mentioned, the Four Knights Game can come into play if black responds your Nc3 with Nf6.

Two Knights Defense

This is the Two Knights Defense: e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 Bc4 Nf6

When black responds your Italian bishop with Nf6, the Two Knights Defense is more of a counterattack than it is a defense because when black plays Nf6, white's e4 pawn is hanging. There are many ways to respond to this. There is...

4. d3, protects the e4 pawn and opens up the dark squared bishop

4. Ng5, which starts an attack on the f7 pawn
or 4. O-O, which leaves the e4 pawn up for grabs but gets your king to safety
That will end it here. If you want me to extend a branch of the Italian and talk about it more, request and I can try my best to explain it deeper for you. Of course, things are going to be inaccurate as I'm only an 1100 daily player and only know the basics of the Italian. I'm sure there are better blogs explaining the Italian. 
Hope you have a good one!