Italian Gambit
Encyclopedia
The Italian Gambit is a chess opening
characterized by the moves
It is often played as an alternative to the quiet and closed lines of the Giuoco Piano
or Giuoco Pianissimo openings. Black may take with the pawn (a transposition to the Scotch Gambit, usually leading to the Max Lange Attack
); the knight, which is considered weak since it allows the strong 5.Nxe5 (Attacking f7 with the bishop and knight), or with the bishop, which is considered best.
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.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
characterized by 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
Giuoco Piano
The Giuoco Piano is a chess opening beginning with the moves:Common alternatives to 3...Bc5 include 3...Nf6 , 3...Be7 , or 3...d6 .-History:...
or Giuoco Pianissimo openings. Black may take with the pawn (a transposition to the Scotch Gambit, usually leading to the Max Lange Attack
Max Lange Attack
The Max Lange Attack is a chess opening that can arise from many different opening lines, including the Two Knights Defense, Petroff's Defense, Scotch Gambit, Bishop's Opening, Center Game, and Giuoco Piano...
); the knight, which is considered weak since it allows the strong 5.Nxe5 (Attacking f7 with the bishop and knight), or with the bishop, which is considered best.
After 4...Bxd4 5.Nxd4 Nxd4, George Koltanowski
George Koltanowski
George Koltanowski was a Belgian-born American chess player, promoter, and writer. He was informally known as "Kolty". Koltanowski set the world's blindfold record on 20 September 1937, in Edinburgh, by playing 34 chess games simultaneously while blindfolded, making headline news around the world...
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
Jude Acers
Jude Frazer Acers is a chess player best known for playing against all comers in the New Orleans Gazebo while wearing a red beret...
and George Laven, and which probably suffices for dynamic equality. The other alternative 6.f4?! is considered dubious due to 6...d5.
See also
- Italian GameItalian GameThe Italian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:The game's defining move is the White king's bishop's move to c4 in preparation for an early attack on Black's vulnerable f7-square. As such the game is typified by aggressive play, where Black's best chances are often...
- List of chess openings
- List of chess openings named after places