Italian Gambit
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Giuoco Piano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Italian Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
It is often played as an alternative to the quiet and closed lines of the Giuoco Piano or Giuoco Pianissimo openings. Black can:
- take with the pawn (4...exd4), a transposition to the Scotch Gambit;
- take with the knight (4...Nxd4), which is considered weak since it allows 5.Nxe5, attacking f7 with the bishop and knight; or
- take with the bishop (4...Bxd4), which is considered best.
4...Bxd4
After 4...Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4:
- 6.0-0, favoured by George Koltanowski, transposes to the related gambit line 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 following 6...Nf6, when 7.f4 and 7.Bg5 are the main possibilities for White; however, 6...d6!? is an independent alternative for Black.
- 6.Be3, dubbed the Miami Variation by Jude Acers and George Laven, is a way for White to deviate that probably suffices for dynamic equality.
- 6.f4?! is considered dubious due to 6...d6.
See also
References
The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Italian Gambit
- Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
- Acers, Jude; Laven, George (2003). The Italian Gambit (and) A Guiding Repertoire for White–1.e4!. Trafford Publishing. ISBN 1-55369-604-2.