The Giuco Piano

I'm studying Mastering Chess Openings Vol 1 by John Watson since it's going to take a month for FCO to arrive (note: do not buy books from The Book Depository if you live in the USA).  Here's a basic look at the ideas behind the Guico Piano.  In general, you have white trying to establish the ideal pawn center (pawns at e4 and d4) while preventing black from advancing his own pawns.  Of course, black does not just sit back and allow white to realize his dreams.  The result is a classic isolated queen pawn (IQP) situation.