Italian Gambit

Italian Gambit

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4
ECO	C50
Parent	Giuoco Piano

The Italian Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Bc5

4. d4

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, usually leading to the Max Lange Attack);
• take with the knight (4...Nxd4), which is considered weak since it allows the strong 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, George Koltanowski favoured 6.0-0, which 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.

White can also deviate with 6.Be3, which was dubbed the Miami Variation by Jude Acers and George Laven, and which probably suffices for dynamic equality.

The other alternative 6.f4?! is considered dubious due to 6...d5.

Read more:

• Italian Game
• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after places