Giuoco Piano

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Giuoco Piano
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 nd d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 bd d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 bl d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
ECO C50
Origin 16th century
Named after Italian: "quiet game"
Parent Open Game
Chessgames.com opening explorer

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 16th century and the Italian Greco played it at the beginning of the 17th century. The opening is also known as the Italian Game, although that term is sometimes 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.

Contents

[edit] Variations

The main continuations on White's fourth move are

  • 4.c3 (the Main Line of the Giuoco Piano), see below.
  • 4.d3 (the Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian: "quietest game"), see below.
  • 4.b4 (the Evans Gambit), in which White offers a pawn to speed his development.
  • 4.d4, (the Italian Gambit), in which White opens up the center avoiding the quiet lines of the Giuoco Piano and Giuoco Pianissimo.

[edit] Main Line

Image:chess zhor 22.png
Image:chess zver 22.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 h8 rd Image:chess zver 22.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 nd d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 bd c4 bl d4 e4 nd f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 nl d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 22.png
Main line (Greco Attack)
Position after 7...Nxe4

In the Main Line White plays 4.c3, in preparation for a central advance, d2-d4.
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 line can continue 4...Qe7 5.d4 Bb6 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 a6 8. h3 Nf6 9.Re1 0-0.

The more aggressive 4…Nf6 was first analyzed by Greco in the 17th century. In the Greco Attack White uses a major piece sacrifice to create a trap. Play continues:-

4.c3 Nf6
5.d4 exd4
6.cxd4 Bb4+
7.Nc3 Nxe4 (see diagram)

(Greco encouraged an attack on White’s Queen Rook with 8.0-0, allowing 8...Nxc3!?.
<<9. bxc3 Bxc3 10 Qb3>> 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. This trap is now well-known, and Black can avoid it by playing 8...Bxc3. After 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 best is 9...d5! 10.cxb4 dxc4 11.Re1+ Ne7 12.Qa4+! Bd7 13.b5 O-O 14.Qxc4 Ng6!)
In 1898 the Moller attack revived this line; Danish player Jørgen Møller published analysis of the line in Tidsskrift for Skak (1898). In the Møller Attack White sacrifices a pawn for development and the initiative:

8.0-0 Bxc3!
9.d5 Bf6

(9...Ne5 is also interesting; a possible continuation is 10.bxc3 Nxc4 11.Qd4 f5 12.Qxc4 d6)

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. White also can play 16.Qd2 c6! 17.dxe6 f6 18.Bd3 d5 19.Rg4 Qc7 20.h3 O-O-O 21.b4 attacking)

14...Bd7
15.Qe2 Bxb5
16.Qxb5+ Qd7
17.Qxb7

(17.Qe2 Kf8 wins a second pawn)

17...0-0 and Black is at least equal.

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!?
(10...Kf8 11.Qxb4+ Qe7+ 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 is safer, reaching an equal endgame) 11.Ne5+ Ke6! 12.Qxb4 c5!?)
8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7
(10...Na5 is better, 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.

[edit] Giuoco Pianissimo

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. The common move orders are 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 and the transposition via the Bishop's Game: 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 Bc5.

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[edit] References