Giuoco Piano

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

The Giuoco Piano is a chess opening characterized by the moves

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Bc5

The Giuoco Piano (Italian: "quiet game"), is the oldest recorded opening. The Portuguese Damiano played it at the beginning of the 15th century and the Italian Greco played it at the beginning of the 16th century. Because of Greco's work on the opening, it is sometimes called the Italian Game, although that term is also used more generally to describe the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. 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.

White's "Italian bishop" at c4 prevents Black from advancing in the center with ...d5 and attacks the vulnerable f7 square. White plans to dominate the center with d2-d4 and to attack the Black king. Black aims to free his game by exchanging pieces and playing the pawn break ...d5, or to hold his center pawn at e5.

With 4.d3, White plays the Giuoco Pianissimo (Italian: "quietest game"). White aims for a slow buildup deferring d4 until it can be prepared. By avoiding an immediate confrontation in the center White prevents the early release of tension through exchanges and enters a positional maneuvering game. If White plays c2-c3, the position can take some characteristics of the Ruy Lopez if his bishop retreats to c2 via Bc4-b3-c2. Despite its drawish reputation, this variation became more popular after being taken up by John Nunn in the 1980s.

With the Evans Gambit, 4.b4, White offers a pawn to speed his development.

With the Italian Gambit, 4.d4, White opens up the center avoiding the quiet lines of the Giuoco Piano and Giuoco Pianissimo.

In the most popular continuation White prepares d2-d4 by playing 4.c3. Black can try to hold a strong point in the center at e5 with 4...Qe7 or he can counterattack with 4...Nf6. The center holding variation can continue 4...Qe7 5.d4 Bb6 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 a6 8. h3 Nf6 9.Re1 0-0. The variations following from 4...Nf6 have been very extensively analyzed for over 300 years. Danish player J�rgen M�ller published analysis of the line that would later be called the M�ller Attack in Tidsskrift for Skak (1898). In the M�ller Attack White sacrifices a pawn for development and the initiative: 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bxc3! 9.d5. Black's best line is considered 9...Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6 12.Bg5 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 h6! (13...0-0?! 14.Nxh7! is considered to lead to a draw with best play, although Black has many opportunities to go wrong) 14.Bb5+ (after 14.Qe2 hxg5 15.Re1 Be6! 16.dxe6 f6 17.Re3 c6 18.Rh3 Rxh3 19.gxh3 g6 it is doubtful that White has compensation for the sacrificed pawn, according to International Master Larry Kaufman; 14.Qh5 0-0 15.Rae1 Ng6! also favors Black) Bd7 15.Qe2 Bxb5 16.Qxb5+ Qd7 17.Qxb7 (17.Qe2 Kf8 wins a second pawn) 0-0 and Black is at least equal. Another line that Greco discovered varies starting on Black's 8th move with 8...Nxc3?! 9.bxc3 Bxc3 (9...d5! is better) 10.Qb3 (10.Ba3! is nowadays considered very strong). Now if Black takes the White queen rook with 10...Bxa1, White wins the black queen with 11.Bxf7+, Kf8 12. Bg5 Ne7 13. Re1. If White does not want to gambit material, instead of 7.Nc3 he can play 7.Bd2 which can continue 7...Bxd2+ (Kaufman recommends 7...Nxe4!? 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5!? 11.Ne5+ Ke6! 12.Qxb4 c5!?) 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 (10...Na5 is also possible, 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 his isolated queen pawn can be a weakness.

References

Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion To Chess, Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.

Kaufman, Larry (2004). The Chess Advantage in Black and White, McKay Chess Library. ISBN 0-8129-3571-3.