Giuoco Piano

"Italian Opening" redirects here. For the opening known as the Italian Game, see Italian Game.

The Giuoco Piano (pronounced [ˈdʒwɔːko ˈpjaːno]; Italian for 'Quiet Game')^[1] is a chess opening beginning with the moves:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Bc5

Giuoco Piano

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
ECO	C50–C54
Origin	16th century
Named after	Italian: 'Quiet Game'[1]
Parent	Italian Game
Synonyms	Italian Opening[2] Piano Opening[3]

"White aims to develop quickly – but so does Black. White can construct a pawn centre but in unfavourable conditions a centre which cannot provide a basis for further active play."^[4]

The name "Italian Game" is also commonly used;^[5] however, that name is sometimes used instead to describe all openings starting 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, including 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defence) and other less common replies.

The Giuoco Piano is assigned codes C50 to C54 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.

History

The Giuoco Piano is one of the oldest recorded openings. The Portuguese writer Pedro Damiano played it at the beginning of the 16th century and the Italian Greco played it at the beginning of the 17th century. The Giuoco Piano was popular through the 19th century, but modern refinements in defensive play have led most chess masters towards openings like the Ruy Lopez that offer White greater chances for long-term initiative.

In modern play, grandmasters have shown distinct preference for the slower and more strategic Giuoco Pianissimo (4.d3, or 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3). Anatoly Karpov used the Giuoco Pianissimo against Viktor Korchnoi twice in the 1981 World Championship match, with both games ending in a draw;^[6][7] Garry Kasparov used it against Joël Lautier at Linares 1994, resigning after 29 moves;^[8] Vladimir Kramnik chose it against Teimour Radjabov at Linares (2004);^[9] Viswanathan Anand used it to defeat Jon Hammer in 2010;^[10] Magnus Carlsen used it against Hikaru Nakamura at London 2011, winning in 41 moves^[11] and Ian Nepomniachtchi used it against Magnus Carlsen in the 2021 World Championship match, losing in 49 moves.^[12]

Variations

The main continuations on White's fourth move are:

• 4.c3, the Main line
• 4.b4, the Evans Gambit, in which White offers a pawn in return for rapid development
• 4.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo
• 4.0-0, often with the intention of meeting 4...Nf6 with 5.d4, the Max Lange Attack, in which White opens up the centre, or 5.d3, the Giuoco Pianissimo

Other continuations are:

• 4.Nc3 Nf6, the Four Knights Variation
• 4.d4, the Italian Gambit, which is considered an inaccurate move order due to the reply 4...Bxd4
• 4.Bxf7+? Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5, the Jerome Gambit, an unsound opening where White sacrifices two pieces with the idea of exposing Black's king and obtaining a mating attack

4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4

White plays 4.c3 in preparation for the central advance 5.d4 (5.d3 transposes to the Giuoco Pianissimo; 5.0-0 enters the Albin Gambit, which can be accepted with 5...Nxe4 or declined, usually with 5...d6). The main reply 4...Nf6 was first analysed by Greco in the 17th century.

After 5...exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ White can play 7.Nc3, 7.Bd2, 7.Nbd2, or 7.Kf1!?. Alternatively, White can play 6.e5, recommended by Evgeny Sveshnikov.

Greco Variation: 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Main line after 8.0-0

This line usually continues 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 (8...Nxc3 is also seen but inferior). Black picks up a free pawn but has a vulnerable king and kickable pieces. White can play 9.d5, sacrificing a pawn for development and the initiative, or simply recapture with 9.bxc3.

Møller Attack: 7...Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5

The most common continuation is 9...Bf6, with the main line continuing 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 h6! (13...0-0 14.Nxh7! has been analysed to a draw with best play, although Black has many opportunities to go wrong). This most often continues either 14.Bb5+ Bd7 or 14.Qe2, where after 14...hxg5 15.Re1 Be6! 16.dxe6 (White also can try 16.Qd2 c6! 17.dxe6 f6 18.Bd3 d5 19.Rg4 Qc7 20.h3 0-0-0 21.b4, attacking) 16...f6 17.Re3 c6 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 it is doubtful that White has sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn, according to Grandmaster Larry Kaufman; 14.Qh5 0-0 15.Rae1 Ng6! (or 15...Nf5!) also favours Black.

Another possible continuation for White is 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4, followed by 11...0-0 12.Qxe4 (or 12.Qxc4) or 11...f5 12.Qxc4 d6.

An alternative for Black is 9...Ne5, with most common continuation being 10.bxc3 (10.Qe2 is also common) Nxc4 11.Qd4, followed by 11...0-0 12.Qxe4 (or 12.Qxc4) or 11...f5 12.Qxc4 d6.

9.bxc3

If 9...Bxc3?! 10.Qb3 Bxa1?, White wins with 11.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.Bg5. Greco's game (probably analysis) continues 12...Ne7 13.Ne5 (13.Re1 and 13.Rxa1 also win) 13...d5 14.Qf3 Bf5 15.Be6 g6 16.Bh6+ Ke8 17.Bf7#.^[13][14] This trap is well known, and Black can avoid it by playing 10...d5. For this reason, the Scottish master James Aitken proposed 10.Ba3!, which gives White the advantage. After 9.bxc3, best for Black is 9...d5! 10.cxb4 dxc4 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qa4+! Bd7 13.b5 0-0 14.Qxc4 Ng6!

Other lines

• Black can avoid the complications of the Møller Attack with 7...d5, 7...d6, 7...0-0, or 7...Bxc3, but these lead to passive positions for Black.

6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2

If White does not want to gambit material, 7.Bd2, Greco's move,^[15] is a good alternative. The game could continue 7...Bxd2+ (Kaufman recommends 7...Nxe4!? 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5!? [10...Kf8 11.Qxb4+ Qe7 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 is safer, reaching an equal endgame] 11.Ne5+ Ke6! 12.Qxb4 c5!?) 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 (10...Na5 is an alternative, inviting a repetition of moves after 11.Qa4+ Nc6 [threatening 12...Nb6] 12.Qb3 Na5) 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfe1 c6. In this position White has more freedom, but the isolated d-pawn can be a weakness. 7.Nbd2 is also a viable move for White, although this still only offers approximate equality. It has not been a popular choice among human players, but it seems to be recommended by computer engines.^[16] 7.Kf1?! has been largely abandoned.^[17]

Advance Variation: 6.e5

White can also try 6.e5, a line favoured by Evgeny Sveshnikov,^[18] when play usually continues 6...d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6, with approximate equality.

6.0-0

Additionally, White has a gambit alternative in 6.0-0, which Graham Burgess revived in the book 101 Chess Opening Surprises; the critical line runs 6...Nxe4 7.cxd4 d5 8.dxc5 dxc4 9.Qe2 Qd3.

6.b4

The seldom seen pawn thrust 6.b4 was played in the off-balance upset encounter Fier–Mamedyarov, Chessable Masters 2023.^[19] After 6...Bb6 7.e5 d5 8.exf6 dxc4 9.Qe2+ Be6 10.b5, Black offered the sacrifice 10...Nb4. White choose to accept the offer with 11.cxb4, allowing Black a pair of connected passed pawns for the piece. Accurate play was required to hold back the passers' advance. Play continued 11...Qxf6 12.0-0 0-0 13.a4 a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.Bg5 Qf5 16.Bd2 Raa8 17.Bb4 Rfe8 18.a5 Qxb5 19.Qd2 c5. White countered with 20.Bc3, attempting to exchange his extra bishop for the dangerous d-pawn, seeking to regain equality. Black eventually converted his advantage, with the simplifying and consolidating exchanges 20...Bd8 21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Qd7 23.Nxe6 Qxe6.^[20]

Giuoco Pianissimo: 4.d3

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Giuoco Pianissimo: 4.d3

With 4.d3, White plays the Giuoco Pianissimo (Italian for 'Very Quiet Game', a name given by Adolf Anderssen).^[21] White aims for a slow buildup, deferring the push to d4 until it can be prepared. By avoiding an immediate confrontation in the centre, White prevents the early release of tension through exchanges and enters a positional maneuvering game. Black usually responds with 4...Nf6 (or 4...d6 and then 5...Nf6).

If White plays c3, the position can take some characteristics of the Ruy Lopez if the bishop retreats to c2 via b3. This idea has been taken up by some grandmasters, such as Anish Giri, to avoid the drawish Berlin Defence in the Ruy Lopez. White can also play b4 and a4, chasing the black bishop and staking out space on the queenside. Despite its slow, drawish reputation, this variation became more popular after being taken up by John Nunn in the 1980s. The common move orders are 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 (ECO C54), and transposition from the Bishop's Opening: 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 or 5.0-0 d6 6.c3.

If White plays Nc3 instead of c3, usually via 4...Nf6 5.Nc3, this leads to the hypersymmetrical Italian Four Knights Variation.^[22]

Closed Variation: 4.c3 Qe7

Black can try to hold a strongpoint in the centre at e5 with 4...Qe7, a move which first appeared in the Göttingen manuscript c. 1500.^[23] After 5.d4 (5.0-0 usually transposes) Bb6, White's options include 6.0-0, 6.d5, 6.a4 and 6.Bg5.^[24] A typical continuation is 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1 0-0 (Leonhardt–Spielmann, Ostend 1907).^[25]

Evans Gambit: 4.b4

Main article: Evans Gambit

This leads to the extremely sharp Evans Gambit, where White sacrifices a pawn enable quick development and attempt an attack on Black's king.

Other lines

• 4.Nc3 usually transposes to the Italian Four Knights Variation after 4...Nf6 5.d3.
• 4.0-0 Nf6 usually continues with 5.d3, transposing to the Giuoco Pianissimo; 5.d4, the Deutz Gambit; or 5.c3, the Albin Gambit.
• 4.0-0 d6 usually transposes to the Giuoco Pianissimo with 5.d3 (or 5.c3 Nf6 6.d3), or into a line of the Albin Gambit with 5.c3 Nf6 6.d4.
• 4.c3 d6 usually continues 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6 (or 6...Bb4+), the La Bourdonnais Variation, a line that can also be reached from the Scotch Gambit via 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 d6. Black has yielded the centre to White but has reasonably developed pieces.
• 4.c3 Bb6 usually transposes to the Closed Variation after 5.d4 Qe7 or the 4...d6 line after 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 d6.
• Other 4th moves for Black are considered weak.
• 4.d3 f5 is the not-so-quiet Lucchini Gambit; there can follow 5.Ng5 f4, the Dubois Variation.^[26]

ECO codes

Codes from the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings are:

• C50 Italian Game, includes Giuoco Piano lines other than 4.c3 and 4.b4
• C51 Evans Gambit
• C52 Evans Gambit, with 4...Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5
• C53 Giuoco Piano, 4.c3, without 4...Nf6
• C54 Giuoco Piano, 4.c3 Nf6
  • includes other than 5.d4 and 5.d3
  • 5.d4 exd4, without 6.cxd4
  • 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4
  • 5.d3