Italian Game How to Play Part III


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Italian Game: How to Play Part III Video: This chess video on Italian Game will help you learn one variation of this chess opening. The variation is called Greco's Attack variation - ECO C54, with the move order of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3.

Greco's Attack variation of Italian Game is common at the chess beginner's level, and it must be useful for chess beginners to learn. The variation does not belong to the "Giuoco Pianissimo" (very quite game) system. Greco's Attack variation is not very quite opening variation...

It is a typical open game: Open fight for the development, center, space, and initiative... Greco's Attack variation may appear from Scotch Gambit or from the native Italian Game. Black must not play 5... Bb6 or 5... Bd5. To see the video, click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn Greco's Attack variation of Italian Game which was shown in the video, please find the variation in writing below:

Variation: Italian Game - Greco's Attack variation, C54:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
7... Ne4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Re4 d6

Italian Game How to Play Part II


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Italian Game: How to Play Part II Video: This chess video on Italian Game will help you learn one variation of this chess opening. The variation in question is called Italian Four Knights variation - ECO Code C50, with the move order of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3.

The variation belongs to the system of Italian Game which is called "Giuoco Pianissimo" (very quite game). The Giuoco Pianissimo system is designed for unhurried development and positional run. It avoids or postpones the White's move d2-d4 as a direct run-in for the center at once.

Within this chess video you will learn how to play 2 lines of Italian Four Knights variation of the Italian Game opening as best moves for White and Black. You must get a feel of how to play this opening correctly... To see the video, just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn 2 lines of Italian Four Knights variation, which was shown in the video, find the variation in writing below:

Variation: Italian Four Knights variation, Line 1, C50:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 ...
[Line 1:] 6... h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nd5 Qd8 9.c3 Ne7 10.Ne3 0-0

Variation: Italian Four Knights variation, Line 2, C50:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 ...
[Line 2:] 6... Na5 7.Bb3 Nxb3 8.axb3 Be6 9.Na4 h6 10.Bh4 Bg4 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.h3

Italian Game | Lesson 33


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[• Learn: Open Game Chess Openings 1.e4 e5]

This lesson is designed for chess beginners to learn the Italian Game chess opening. It includes the textual part and the following 4 chess videos: Italian Game - General Information, Italian Game - How to Play Part I - Part II - Part III. More material on the Italian Game chess opening to follow.

This lesson is divided into 2 parts:
I. Italian Game: Data and Variations
II. Italian Game Videos: See the Picture and How to Play

Latest Chess Opening Information and New Links

I. Italian Game: Data and Variations


Chess Opening Name: Italian Game
Type: Open Game opening (starts with 1.e4 e5)
Moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
ECO Codes: C50, C53-C54
Note: ECO Codes C51-C52 are Evans Gambit, not Italian Game.

Italian Game chess opening

Italian Game: General Description

Italian Game is one of the oldest chess openings recorded. Its official name is Giuoco Piano. The opening is beautiful, useful for chess beginners to learn, and popular enough to play. It may easily transpose into Evans Gambit [1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4], which is a different opening.

Italian Game is an unusual one because it may run quietly or it may be wild... Black must remember that White is aimed at the Black's weak f7 square and may quickly mobilize the force to attack. Both parties must be careful in play because Giuoco Piano ("Quite Game") may be not so quite...

To answer Italian Game, White has the following 5 moves: (*) 4.c3 - appr. 40%; (*) 4.d3 - appr. 20%; (*) 4.O-O - appr. 15%; (*) 4.Nc3 - appr. 15%; (*) 4.b4 - appr. 10%. Officially, Italian Game has at least 36 variations. You can find the most common variations below...

Italian Game: Some Variations

• Greco's Attack variation, C54:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3

• Center-holding variation, C53:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6

• Canal variation, C50:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5

The magority of variations of Italian Game are played via the following 3 lines: 4.c3 .., the 4.d3 .., and the 4.0-0 .. Within Italian Game, there is a variation with 4.Bxf7+, but it is not being played today.

II. Italian Game Videos: See the Picture and How to Play


To understand this chess opening in general, you are recommended to replay Video 1: Italian Game - General Information. To see the Italian Game chess opening in a visible way and to learn it, click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To see Video 2: Italian Game - How to Play Part I, click this link:
See Video 2: Italian Game - How to Play Part I
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display the 6.cxd4 line of Italian Game.

To see Video 3: Italian Game - How to Play Part II, click this link:
See Video 3: Italian Game - How to Play Part II
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display Italian Four Knights variation.

To see Video 4: Italian Game - How to Play Part III, click this link:
See Video 4: Italian Game - How to Play Part III
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display Greco's Attack variation of Italian Game.

Links to All Chess Opening Lessons

More material on Italian Game will be added later, and it must give you the essential initial knowledge on this chess opening. Please be advised that the chess opening material within this site is designed for chess beginners only.

Italian Game How to Play Video 1


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Italian Game: How to Play Video 1: This chess video on Italian Game will help you learn only one variation of this chess opening. The variation runs within the 6.cxd4 line. It goes via the White move 4.c3, which is the most common answer to Italian Game...

The 6.cxd4 line includes the designated moves of Italian Game plus the following move order combination 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4. The line may turn into some other variations of Italian Game, for example into Cracow variation, Greco's Attack variation, Greco variation, etc.

At the chess master level today, you can see the tendency of postponing the fight for the center and making Italian Game more positional in play. This can be demonstrated by chess masters' playing 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 instead of 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4. This change avoids playing the 6.cxd4 line...

Within this video you will learn how to play a line of Italian Game. You will learn why Black must capture the White pawn on d4. You will see the picture of Cracow variation, and Greco's Attack variation... To see the video, just click the Play button below:





• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn the Italian Game's 6.cxd4 line, which was shown in the video, please find this variation in writing below:

Variation: Italian Game - The 6.cxd4 Line, C54:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2 8.Nbxd2 d5! 9.exd5 Nd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.0-0 0-0
Note: White is better.

Scotch Gambit | Lesson 32


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[• Learn: Open Game Openings 1.e4 e5]

Lesson 32 is designed for chess beginners to learn the Scotch Gambit chess opening. It includes the text and explanations to read, the PGN file to download and replay, and the following 4 videos to see and learn: Video 1: Scotch Gambit General Information, Videos 2-3-4: Scotch Gambit How to Play Different Variations Parts 1-2-3.

Latest Chess Opening Information and New Links

I. Scotch Gambit: Data and Variations


Chess Opening Name: Scotch Gambit
Type: An Open Game opening (begins with 1.e4 e5)
Move Order: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4
ECO Code: C44 (C44 is not only Scotch Gambit)

Scotch Gambit chess opening

Scotch Gambit: General Description

Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4) is a brother opening of Scotch Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4), but it is not so common as the latter. The reason for this is simple: Within Scotch Gambit, it is not easy for White to get better opening position...

The best Black moves to answer Scotch Gambit are the following 4: (1) 4... Nf6 - appr. 45%; (2) 4... Bc5 - appr. 40%; (3) 4... Bb4+ - appr. 10%; (4) 4... Be7 - appr. 5%. Officially, Scotch Gambit has at least 11 variations: 3-4 of them are the most common...

Scotch Gambit: Some Variations

• Dubois-Reti Defence variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6

• Scotch Gambit, a 4... Bc5 line, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5

• The 5.Ng5 variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5

• The 6.bxc3 variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3

• Benima Defense variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7

• Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 d5

II. Scotch Gambit: Learn 4 Videos


To understand this chess opening in general, you are recommended to see first Video 1: Scotch Gambit - General Information. To learn the Scotch Gambit opening in a visible way, just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

You have seen the above Video 1 - You have learn the general picture on Scotch Gambit... And now you are recommended to see Video 2 and Video 3: Both are located on separate pages, find their links below. Video 2 and Video 3 will display how to play some variations of Scotch Gambit.

To see Video 2: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 1, click this link:
See Video 2: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 1
Note: You can find this video at the bottom of the page open.
Note: This video will display 2 variations of Scotch Gambit.

To see Video 3: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 2, click this link:
See Video 3: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 2
Note: This video will display other 2 variations of Scotch Gambit.

To see Video 4: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 3, click this link:
See Video 4: Scotch Gambit - How to Play Part 3
Note: This video will display Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation of Scotch Gambit.

III. Scotch Gambit: Download PGN File


Find below the Scotch-Gambit.pgn file to download and see how it works in real games at the chess master level. To read the file, you will need a PGN Viewer Program. See Lesson 16, which explains you how to download a decent freeware PGN Viewer Program.

The Scotch-Gambit.pgn file includes:
• The description of Scotch Gambit.
• Some variations of this chess opening.
• 12 Scotch Gambit chess games played by chess masters in 2009.

To download the Scotch Gambit PGN File, click the following link:

Download Scotch-Gambit.PGN File, 9 KB

Note 1. The above file is to be downloaded from Google Drive. First click the above link to open, then click the download icon to download.
Note 2. To read the above PGN File and see the chess games inside it, you will need a PGN Viewer software. See Lesson 16, which explains how to download a decent freeware PGN Viewer.

Links to All Chess Opening Lessons

You have learned the Scotch Gambit chess opening, and this was Lesson 32 for beginners on https://chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com ...

Scotch Gambit How to Play Video 3


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Scotch Gambit: How to Play Video 3: This chess video on Scotch Gambit will help you learn only one variation of this chess opening. The variation runs within the 4... Bc5 line of Scotch Gambit, and its name is Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation. Read more on it below...

Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation includes 9 designated moves. At first, it looks promising for White: White moves 5.Ng5 and his bishop and knight attack the Black's f7 square. White sacrifices a minor piece for one Black pawn, and then makes the Queen fork to take the sacrificed back...

Black is deprived of the castling move... However, the Black position is better... After this short introduction, now you are invited to learn Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation of Scotch Gambit in a visible way. To see the video, just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn Cochrane-Shumov Defense variation, which was shown in the video, please find this variation in writing below:

Variation: Scotch Gambit - Cochrane-Shumov Defence variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 d5 10.0-0 dxe4 11.c3 Re8 12.Bf4 Bf5
Note: Not recommended for White: If correct, Black is always better.

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You have seen Video 3 and learned how to play Scotch Gambit.

Scotch Gambit How to Play Video 2


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Scotch Gambit: How to Play Video 2: This chess video on Scotch Gambit will help you learn the next 2 variations: The 5.Ng5 variation (within the 4... Bc5 line) and The 6.bxc3 variation (within the 4... Bb4+ line). The following is more information to remind you...

The designated moves for Scotch Gambit are 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4, ECO C44. Scotch Gambit is a brother opening of Scotch Game. Note: The second brother opening of Scotch Game is Goering Gambit with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3, ECO C44 - not to be discussed.)

To answer Scotch Gambit, Black has 1 of the following 4 moves: (1) 4... Nf6 - appr. 45%; (2) 4... Bc5 - appr. 40%; (3) 4... Bb4+ - appr. 10%; (4) 4... Be7 - appr. 5%. Officially, Scotch Gambit has at least 11 variations: 3-4 of them are the most common...

And now you are ready to see the video. Within the video, please pay attention to the recommendation not to play for White The 5.Ng5 variation (within the 4... Bc5 line)... To see the Scotch Gambit: How to Play Video [2], just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn the Scotch Gambit variations which were shown in the video as Variations 1 and 2, please find them in writing below:

Variation 1: Scotch Gambit - The 5.Ng5 variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6! 6.c3 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.h3 a6 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.a3 b5 11.Ba2 c6
Note: Not recommended for White. If correct, Black is always better.

Variation 2: Scotch Gambit - The 6.bxc3 variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bb4+ 5.c3 dxc3 6.bxc3 Ba5 7.0-0 d6 8.Qb3 Qf6 9.Bg5 Qg6
Note: Black can get equal position. But this variation is little risky for Black.

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You have seen Video 2 and learned how to play Scotch Gambit.

Scotch Gambit How to Play Video 1


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Scotch Gambit: How to Play Video [1]: This chess video on Scotch Gambit will help you learn its 2 main variations: Dubois-Reti Defense variation and Scotch Gambit, a 4... Bc5 line. Before seeing the video, please read the following short information on this opening.

Scotch Gambit is a brother opening of Scotch Game, but it is not so common. The reason for this is simple: Within Scotch Gambit, it is not easy for White to get better position... The designated moves order for Scotch Gambit is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4. ECO Code C44.

To answer Scotch Gambit, Black has 1 of the following 4 moves: (1) 4... Nf6 - appr. 45%; (2) 4... Bc5 - appr. 40%; (3) 4... Bb4+ - appr. 10%; (4) 4... Be7 - appr. 5%. Officially, Scotch Gambit has at least 11 variations: 3-4 of them are the most common...

And now you are ready to see the video. Within the video, pay special attention to the last section how not to play for Black (do not play 5... dxc3 in Variation 2)... To see the Scotch Gambit: How to Play Video [1], just click the Play button below:




• If the opening video hasn't shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player's handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.

To replay on the chess board and learn the Scotch Gambit variations which were shown in the video, please find them in writing below:

Variation 1: Scotch Gambit - Dubois-Reti Defense variation, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.O-O Bc5 10.f3 Ng5 11.Be3 0-0

Variation 2: Scotch Gambit - Scotch Gambit, a 4... Bc5 line, C44:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.c3 Nf6 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 d6

Note: In Variation 2, Scotch Gambit, a 4... Bc5 line, remember not to play 5... dxc3 for Black because White will conduct a short combination... and after this combination White will be better. You can see this in the video within its last section. Thank you!

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You have seen Video 1 and learned how to play Scotch Gambit.