The quiet (d3) version of the Italian is a maddening labyrinth of subtly different move orders and plans, and the theory seems to change from tournament to tournament. It's hardly worth trying to keep up. You're not going to be playing Giri or Wesley So
trying to understanding the Itialian game (c3, d3)
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Jan 16, 2024
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#23
Laskersnephew wrote:
The quiet (d3) version of the Italian is a maddening labyrinth of subtly different move orders and plans, and the theory seems to change from tournament to tournament. It's hardly worth trying to keep up. You're not going to be playing Giri or Wesley So
It usually ends up looking more like the Lopez, but without the a6/b5 pawn extrusion.
I played this in my last tournament. I was white. 90 min + 30 sec/move, after 40 moves + 30 min.
I have toruble to really understand the italian game. What is my goal? when to attack a (a4,b5) structure?
Edit: 25.d5 Bd7 26.Nxc4 Qb7 27. Nxd6
when you play on the queenside as white you play a4 to open up the a file for play and attack the b5 pawn you also will then often play b4 and stack your rooks on the a file, exchange your d pawn with the c pawn, then put a knight on d5 via Nd2-Nf1-Ne3
when you play on the kingside you more often play Nd2 Nf1 Ng3, then play Nh2 Ng4 and take with the h pawn if they exchange, then you commonly see Nf5 here and an attack on the h file
of course black has counterplay (which is harsher and harder for white to deal with in the italian compared to the ruy lopez) but you just need to learn blacks setups agianst whites options