The Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation is a variation of the Italian Game, catalogued as ECO C54. The line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7, reaching the position shown below after 27 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move after 14 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; White’s d-file pawn is isolated; the e-file file is fully open.
On the Italian Game generally: A classical opening focusing on rapid development and control of the center with pieces.
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The Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7. It is a variation of the Italian Game and is catalogued as ECO C54.
The Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation is ECO C54. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Italian Game.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Bf6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Rxe4 d6 12. Bg5 Bxg5 13. Nxg5 O-O 14. Nxh7 at 0.00 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; White’s d-file pawn is isolated; the e-file file is fully open.