Giuoco Piano

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mandelshtam

but delaying d4 is not at all harmless. actually meodrn practice of GMs show, they play the italian like a ruy lopez, with d3 , Nbd2-f1-g3 (or Nc3-e2-g3), and then c3 and finally d3-d4.

the fast d4 is often not dangerous:

for instance, 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bc4 Bc5, 4.c3 Nf6, 5.d4 ed, 6.cd Bb4+, 7.Bd2 B:d2+, 8.Nb:d2 d5! with complete equality.  

 


sstteevveenn
I believe that's why the Nc3 blocking the check is generally considered to give white better chances (than the Bd2 move). 
pvmike
sstteevveenn, Playing Nc3 gives black more chances to make a mistake, but if they know the line black will at least equalize. 
mandelshtam
true. But it is impossible to find all the traps in the line above, with Nc3, on the board, you must study it before.
pvmike
this is a line that I
have trouble winning against when I'm white