Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5

Giuoco Piano
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
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqk1nr/pppp1ppp/2n5/2b1p3/2B1P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5
ECO code: C50–C54
Parent: 3. Bc4

3...Bc5 – Giuoco Piano

White's main plan is to take control of the center with a d4 push. They must choose whether to do it right then (4. d4 to get a lead in development (despite the loss of the pawn)), or to prepare it with moves like 4. c3 or 4. b4.

White may also forget about the d4-push, and play a quieter line, by supporting the center with 4. d3, for example.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

	4
Giuoco Piano Main Line	c3 Nf6	=
Giuoco Pianissimo	d3 d6	=
Evans Gambit	b4 Bxb4	=
	O-O Nf6	=
Italian Gambit	d4 Bxd4	=
Jerome Gambit	Bxf7+? Kxf7	=+

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.