Italian — Calabrese Attack
System with Qe2, preparing O-O-O and an attack on the kingside.
Italian — Evans Declined
Black declines the Evans Gambit with 4...Bb6, avoiding accepting the poisoned pawn.
Italian — Two Knights (Two Knights Defense)
Black plays 3...Nf6 directly — the Two Knights Defense, inviting tactical complications.
Italian — Fried Liver Attack
Famous attack in the Two Knights Defense: Nxf7!? sacrificing a knight to expose the black king.
Italian — Traxler (Wilkes-Barre)
Bold reply by Black against 4.Ng5: 4...Bc5!? offering an insane countergambit.
Italian — Max Lange Attack
Tactical line: after 4.d4 exd4 5.O-O Nf6 6.e5, White opens the center and launches a quick attack.
Italian — Ponziani
Instead of Bc4, White plays 3.c3 preparing an immediate d4.
Italian — Hungarian Defense
Against 3.Bc4, Black plays 3...Be7, avoiding tension — solid but passive.
Italian — Møller Attack (Open Line)
After 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4, White opens the center fearlessly.
Italian — Modern Giuoco Piano
Modern system with a4 and h3, avoiding Black's kingside attacks.
Italian — Greco Variation
Early Greco attack: Qb3 aiming at f7.
Italian — Bogoljubov (4...Be7 Passive)
Black plays 4...Be7 after 4.Nc3, a passive but playable line.
Italian — Italian Scotch Gambit
After 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4, White offers the pawn on d4 for open play.
Italian — Giuoco Piano
The quiet line of the Italian: c3 prepares d4 without opening the center too early.
Italian — Fegatello Avoided
Against 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, Black plays 5...Na5 avoiding the Fried Liver.
Italian Game — Rosentreter Variation
System with d3 + Nbd2 + Nf1-g3, a typical Spanish maneuver applied to the Italian.
Italian Game — Evans Gambit
A classic gambit from the romantic era: White offers b4 to deflect the bishop and play c3 + d4 with tempo.
Italian — Giuoco Pianissimo
An even calmer variation: White plays d3 early and builds up slowly without committing in the center.
Italian — Italian Scotch Gambit
Italian↔Scotch transposition: after 3.Bc4, White plays d4 without c3.
Italian — Canal-Sokolsky (Minor Piece Attack)
Line with the development of both knights before c3.
Giuoco Piano - Main Line
The quietest Italian opening.
Evans Gambit
The most romantic pawn sacrifice! b4!