I think what's most clear is that you should choose based on what you feel most comfortable with, not some 'objectively best' criteria where you get an extra 0.1 if you find all of Houdini's best moves...
Question about the italian game from black's perspective.
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Gusti also recommands Bc5 in his very good opening dvd on e4-e5. But Nf6 should be playable and after Ng5 you do have some fire on the board ;)
Scottrf wrote:
I think what's most clear is that you should choose based on what you feel most comfortable with, not some 'objectively best' criteria where you get an extra 0.1 if you find all of Houdini's best moves...
That hits it right on the button. 
HurricaneMichael1 wrote:
7...d5 loses the bishop. Anyways, you should play 3...Nf6, not 3...Bc5, more popular, better results, better move, simple as that.
Why would you play Nf6, when the only lines that don't transpose are:
Unless of course you are scared of the evans gambit - which I don't really believe in and is rarely played. (Also, if you are scared of that complicated line why enter a line as complicated as the 2 knights?)
Play the what...?
Feb 18, 2013
0
#28
I don't like playing vs Evans or that boring c3-d4 stuff so I play the Two Knights. 4.Ng5 is not scary at all, and otherwise I get to play a great position against all the quick d4 stuff. Against a stronger player I can force a draw and against a weaker player I can play for a win. Against 4.d3 I do play 4...Bc5 though 4...Be7 is also good and independent of the 3...Bc5 stuff.
But my initial response was just not to underestimate Black's position in 3...Nf6 4.Ng5.
The Moller is refuted in several ways.
moonnie wrote:
I said Bc5 was just as good as Nf6 after you said Nf6 was better I also pointed out that after 1. e4 - e5 2. Nf3 - Nc6 3. Bc4 -Nf4 4. d3 you have nothing better than play the Italian anyways so why bother with the extra theory.
4...Be7 is equally good (just Ask Vlad), and the semi-provocative 4...h6 (with the idea of ...g6 in mind) is also OK, I have played it dozens of times with great results.
Expertise87 wrote:
otherwise I get to play a great position against all the quick d4 stuff.
That's what Keres was thinking too...but he rather quickly came to grief against Sveshnikov (in the aforementioned game).
In Blitz Chess when I face Italian game (against 1400-1700), I have success with this line:
No serious opponent will pick 4.Nxe5? - even in bullet. 3...Nd4 is just a cheap bluff.
pfren wrote:
3...Nd4 is just a cheap bluff.
So it's perfect for bullet.
Feb 19, 2013
0
#34
AndyClifton wrote:
pfren wrote:
3...Nd4 is just a cheap bluff.
So it's perfect for bullet.
:)
Why would anybody take on c3 with the knight when it has been known for ages that Bxc3 gives black an advantage ?
moonnie wrote:
Why would anybody take on c3 with the knight when it has been known for ages that Bxc3 gives black an advantage ?
no it doesn't white still gets a strong attack
Keres' quote came from a 1973 game against the "young kid" Sveshnikov...so this might well have fueled his more aggressive urges.