Openings · C50 · beginner
Italian Game (Giuoco Pianissimo)
15 moves a side · 0/15 of White's moves mastered
The idea in one sentence
Both bishops aim at the weak f-pawn, and the real fight is over d4: White prepares it slowly with c3, Black keeps e5 and develops.
♔ White's plans
- Bring the bishop to c4, where it eyes f7
- Prepare d4 with c3, but strike only when ready
- Castle, then manoeuvre the queen's knight via d2 and f1 to g3
♚ Black's plans
- Mirror with ...Bc5, eyeing f2
- Keep the pawn on e5 well supported
- Answer slow play with ...a6 and ...Ba7 so the bishop is not hit by d4
Pawn structure. Pawns on e4 and d3 against e5 and d6: a closed, slow centre where piece placement matters more than tactics.
How to learn it
- Read the idea and the plans: every move below serves one of them.
- In the story, ask of each move: what does it do, what does it stop, what does it prepare, why not the other one?
- Drill your side. At the key moves you name the idea first, then play the move.
- Missed moves come back first next time, and in your journal.
The defining moves
- 1.e4 grabs the centre and opens lines for the queen and the light-squared bishop.
- 1...e5 claims an equal share of the centre and opens Black's own bishop and queen.
- 2.Nf3 develops with a threat: it attacks the e5 pawn.
- 2...Nc6 develops and defends e5 in one move.
- 3.Bc4 puts the bishop on the diagonal to f7, the square only Black's king defends.
- 3...Bc5 copies the idea: the bishop eyes f2 and also controls d4, the square White wants for a pawn.
The line follows the moves masters play most (Lichess masters database), each checked by Stockfish 19 at depth 22; where the book move is not Stockfish's first choice, the story says so. Scores are in pawns from White's side: +0.30 is good for White, −0.30 for Black.