Chess Opening Tutorial : Two Knights Defense and Giuoco Piano

The diagram shows the board after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. White's third is a romantic move aiming at f7, hindering ...d5, and leading to gambits or speculative, often unsound, sacrifices. Its drawback is the lack of immediate threats; Black can just continue developing. There are two major branches for Black, both covered by ECO C50-59.

• 3...Nf6, the Two Knights Defense [ECO C55-59] is a gambit. After 4.Ng5, Black sacrifices a Pawn with 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5. White has alternatives.
  • 4.d3 to advance d3-d4 when it is more advantageous. The game usually continues 4...Bc5 or 4...Be7.
  • 4.d4 exd4 and now 5.O-O or 5.e5.
  • 4.Nc3 when Black has 4...Bc5 or 4...Nxe4.
  
  
• 3...Bc5, the Giuoco Piano [ECO C51-54] is Italian for 'quiet game' and the opening is sometimes called the Italian Game. The best known continuations are not possible after 3...Nf6.
  • 4.b4 is the Evans Gambit.
  • 4.c3 prepares 5.d4 to force ...exd4, with advantage in the center. Black's best is 4...Nf6.
  • 4.O-O Nf6 (4...d6 is also playable) 5.d4 leads to the Max Lange Attack.
  • 4.Bxf7+ doesn't work: 4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Kf8 7.Qxe5 Qe7.
  Other moves often transpose into 3...Nf6.
  • 4.d3 Nf6.
  • 4.Nc3 Nf6.
  • 4.d4 can be met with 4...Bxd4 or 4...exd4, but not 4...Nxd4? 5.Nxe5 Ne6 6.Bxe6.
  
  
• 3...Be7, the Hungarian Defense [ECO C50] is a rarely played alternative to the two main lines. White has 4.d4 and 4.O-O.