italian game after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

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KARKHI1978

what's the best line for a casual player, not a beginner, aiming to improve after the line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5? Is it better 4. c3 or 4.d3 or other? i mean a line with fair tactical chances but not crazy theory to learn or complex positional ideas that can also be an investiment for future growing of opening repertoire?

thanks.

Isaac_2013

Ok so the Evan's Gambit is a good opening to try, as you get a big centre for the sacrificed pawn. 4. d3 can always be played, but not necessary as there's no attack on the e4 pawn (that's sort of the point, like especially with Nf6 lines where you want to play a slow Italian game). Perhaps one fun one is as follows: 

It was played in the match of 2020 between Dubov and Karjakin. It's an interesting opening and definitely a dynamic one which not many people are aware of. 
Otherwise you could just try the centre game with 4. c3 and 5. d4, which sometimes sacrifices a pawn but you get some nice compensation with a strong centre and nice development.

 

ConfusedGhoul

I like 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5! (6. cxd4 is probably dubious and very nice for Black as he will probably win an extra pawn)

Isaac_2013
ConfusedGhoul wrote:

I like 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5! (6. cxd4 is probably dubious and very nice for Black as he will probably win an extra pawn)

I mean both are fine! No need for an exclamation mark though, e5 is a bit more dynamic and gives a 0.3 advantage to white, whereas cxd4 gives 0.00. Both are perfectly playable and aren't dubious, 6. e5 has 998 professional games on the masters database for lichess (bc I can't access chess.com masters database), whereas 6. cxd4 has 947 master games, so both are about as popular as the other!

ShrekChess69420
ConfusedGhoul wrote:

I like 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5! (6. cxd4 is probably dubious and very nice for Black as he will probably win an extra pawn)

6. cxd4 is not dubious! Black temporarily wins a pawn after: 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 (This is not a free pawn because of the tactical shot...) 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ d5 11. Ne5+ Ke6 12. Qxb4 c5 13. Qa3 cxd4 and 14. Nf3, where White will easily win back the doubled, isolated d-pawn. 

Other line goes: 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O, where the position is objectively balanced. White will play around the isolated d-pawn using the e- and c-files, and could create a kingside attack. 

You clearly don't have enough understanding of the Italian Game to go around calling 6. cxd4 dubious, but this proves you wrong anyway happy.png.