If you think the Italian is boring, you're doing it wrong. Play the Two Knights Defense - it's more likely to lead to sharp, tactical play than the Giuoco Piano.
Opening Recommendation: Black vs Italian
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Possibly of interest:
Starting Out: Open Games by GM Glenn Flear (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232452/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen134.pdf
Bologan's Black Weapons in the Open Games (2014)
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Bologans-Black-Weapons-in-the-Open-Games-76p3873.htm
The Kaufman Repertoire for Black & White by Larry Kaufman (2012)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626221508/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen162.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/955.pdf
Opening Repertoire: The Open Games with Black by Martin Lokander (2015)
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7546.pdf
Playing 1.e4 e5 - A Classical Repertoire by Nikolaos Ntirlis (2016)
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7572.pdf
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1e4e5-excerpt.pdf
Hi guys.
I'd like to learn an interesting opening when playing as black against the Italian or Guccio. My primary motive here is boredom. It's just a dull opening to play against as black. I want to shake things up. Maybe a gambit or other sharp/ballsy way to approach the Italian game.
It doesn't have to be the most sound opening to be found in the books, I just want a curve ball to throw at white when he initiates the boring a** Italian opening. Fun, sharp, or ideally a mix of the two. (As far as play style, I like semi- to full aggressive play-- castling on opposite sides is something I like to go for when it's viable.)
Looking forward to any suggestions you guys might have.