Italian Game
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What bishop sac line are you meaning?
Karfusu wrote:
I feel as if I'm missing something here.
True. You are likely referring to another position/ line:
1. This is not the Italian game, but rather the two knights opening.
2. It's better/safer to take on f7 with bishop rather than knight, as the latter allows 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ with counter chances for Black.
3. It's not a sacrifice- f7 is attacked twice.
At your example, either capture is fine, but Nxf7 wins a lot of material for nothing.
I was reading last night in the Jaenisch Preceptor (1843?) on how the Italian Game was known back then as any opening with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6; once black plays 2...Nc6 they called it the Italian Game; nowadays, I guess we have added 3. Bc4.
ChessPlayinDude47 wrote:
I was reading last night in the Jaenisch Preceptor (1843?) on how the Italian Game was known back then as any opening with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6; once black plays 2...Nc6 they called it the Italian Game; nowadays, I guess we have added 3. Bc4.
We have added 3.Bc4 Bc5.
3.Bc4 Nf6 is the Two Knights, and 3.Bc4 Be7 the Hungarian Defence.
pfren wrote:
ChessPlayinDude47 wrote:
I was reading last night in the Jaenisch Preceptor (1843?) on how the Italian Game was known back then as any opening with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6; once black plays 2...Nc6 they called it the Italian Game; nowadays, I guess we have added 3. Bc4.
We have added 3.Bc4 Bc5.
3.Bc4 Nf6 is the Two Knights, and 3.Bc4 Be7 the Hungarian Defence.
3. Bc4 Bc5 is the Giuoco Piano, which is one variation of the Italian Game; today, the Italian Game just means up to the point of 3. Bc4: any continuations are still considered part of the Italian Game (or the Italian Opening as some call it).
At least, that's what most of the literature I've read indicates. Maybe we should ask some Italians what they think...
"For centuries, 3 Bc4 was so self-evident a move that it was not thought necessary to give it a name, like 1 e4 also has no name. Names were only given after 3 Bc4, in order to distinguish between Black's major replies. 3...Bc5 was called the Giuoco Piano and 3...Nf6 the Two Knights Defence, The mere fact that in this book I follow the modern trend by lumping them together and calling 3 Bc4 the Italian Game, is sadly illustrative of the diminished importance of this opening." - GM Paul van der Sterren (2009)
Apr 16, 2016
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#8
I like how it translates to quiet game, I guess because everyone played such crazy stuff back in the day. Seems like it's the system a lot of people learn first (it was mine) but not the best opening to use as an introduction to chess in my opinion as it usually results in 'quiet' positions. Not so exciting for a kid deciding if chess is a fun game they want to keep playing or not.
Alright, so as white I find much success with using Italian Game Knight Sacrifice line. There is also a Bishop sacrifice line, but I don't see why one would use it over the knight line. Would someone tell me why they would pick the bishop line? I feel as if I'm missing something here.