Italian Game (C50–C59)
A classical opening focusing on rapid development and control of the center with pieces.
Every line in this family begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6, then branches. Each variation below has its own page with the full move order, the position it reaches, and a Stockfish evaluation.
All 152 lines can be practised free in the browser: pick a variation, walk it move by move in Learn mode, then drill it from memory until you can play it without prompting.
All 152 variations of the Italian Game Classical Variation, Albin Gambit C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Deutz Gambit C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Giuoco Pianissimo C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 Giuoco Pianissimo, Canal Variation C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 Giuoco Pianissimo, Dubois Variation C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5 Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation C50 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. d4 exd4 Evans Gambit C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit Declined C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Cordel Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Hicken Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Hirschbach Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Lange Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Pavlov Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Showalter Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit Declined, Vasquez Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bb6 Evans Gambit, Anderssen Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Anderssen Variation, Cordel Line C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Fraser Attack C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Fraser-Mortimer Attack C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Göring Attack C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Harding Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Mayet Defense C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Morphy Attack C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Mortimer-Evans Gambit C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Paulsen Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Steinitz Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Stone-Ware Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Ulvestad Variation C51 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Alapin-Steinitz Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Anderssen Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Bronstein Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense, Main Line C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense, Potter Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Johner Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Laroche Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Lasker Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Leonhardt Countergambit C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Levenfish Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Main Line C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Mieses Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Pierce Defense C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Richardson Attack C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Sanders-Alapin Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Slow Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Sokolsky Variation C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Tartakower Attack C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Evans Gambit, Waller Attack C52 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 Bird's Attack C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Center Holding Variation C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 Classical Variation, Eisinger Variation C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 Classical Variation, La Bourdonnais Variation C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 Classical Variation, Mestel Variation C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation C53 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Qe7 Classical Variation, Center Attack C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Ghulam-Kassim Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Albin Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, Main Line C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a4 a5 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a5 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with h6 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Anderssen Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Dubov Italian C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Main Line C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Modern Line C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Bayonet Attack C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Moeller-Therkatz Attack C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Traditional Line C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Classical Variation, with d5 C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Aitken Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Bernstein Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Cracow Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Holzhausen Attack C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 Giuoco Piano, Krause Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Rosentreter Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 Giuoco Piano, Steinitz Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation C54 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Two Knights Defense C55 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 Two Knights Defense C55 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxe4 Scotch Gambit C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Anderssen Attack, Main Line C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Canal Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Double Gambit Accepted C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Janowski Defense C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack Accepted C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Long Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Max Lange Attack, Spielmann Defense C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, Nakhmanson Gambit C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Scotch Gambit, Walbrodt-Baird Gambit C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 Scotch Gambit, de Riviere Defense C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Two Knights Defense, Keidansky Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Krause Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Loman Defense C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Rubinstein Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Two Knights Defense, Perreux Variation C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 Two Knights Defense, Yurdansky Attack C56 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Nf6 Two Knights Defense, Fegatello Attack, Leonhardt Variation C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Fritz Variation C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Fritz, Gruber Variation C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Lolli Attack C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Pincus Variation C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 Two Knights Defense, Traxler Variation, Trencianske-Teplice Gambit C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Ulvestad Variation, Kurkin Gambit C57 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Blackburne Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Colman Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Maróczy Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Paoli Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bishop Check Line C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bogoljubow Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Kieseritzky Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Yankovich Variation C58 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation C59 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Göring Variation C59 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense C59 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation C59 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 Frequently asked questions
What are the main moves of the Italian Game?
The Italian Game begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6. From there it branches into 152 named variations, each with its own move order and typical plans.
What is the ECO code for the Italian Game?
The Italian Game is catalogued under ECO codes C50–C59. Individual variations list their own specific code on their page.
How can I practise the Italian Game for free?
Open any variation on Chess Ramp and use Learn mode to walk the line one move at a time, then Drill mode to replay it from memory. Practice runs in your browser with no account required.
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