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  3. /Italian Game (C50)
C50

Italian Game

Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

The Italian Game is one of the oldest chess openings, where White develops the bishop to c4 targeting the f7 square. It leads to open, tactical positions with clear attacking ideas for White. The Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) and Two Knights Defence (3...Nf6) are the main branches.

History & Notable Players

One of the oldest recorded openings, analysed in Italian manuscripts from the 15th century. It experienced a massive renaissance in the 2010s when top players like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana adopted it as a main weapon.

Top Players in this Opening

So,W241 gamesAronian,L191 gamesNakamura,Hi170 gamesGiri,A138 gamesCarlsen,M130 gamesCaruana,F109 gamesFirouzja,Alireza102 gamesAnand,V100 gamesPraggnanandhaa,R95 gamesGrischuk,A94 games

Related Openings

C51 - Italian Game: Evans Gambit157C52 - Evans Gambit111C53 - Italian Game: Bird's Attack1114C54 - Italian Game: Classical Variation406C55 - Italian Game: Two Knights Defense941C56 - Italian Game: Scotch Gambit47C57 - Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Kloss Gambit29C58 - Italian Game: Two Knights Defense137C59 - Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation67

Best Games

Praggnanandhaa,R vs Caruana,F1-0
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Dominguez Perez,L vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
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So,W vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Saint Louis Blitz 2025 2025Notable
So,W vs Gukesh,D0-1
Saint Louis Rapid 2025 2025Notable
So,W vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
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Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Gukesh,D1/2-1/2
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Ding Liren vs Gukesh,D1/2-1/2
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Praggnanandhaa,R vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
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So,W vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
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Praggnanandhaa,R vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
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Firouzja,Alireza vs Giri,A1-0
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Caruana,F vs Firouzja,Alireza0-1
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Firouzja,Alireza vs So,W1-0
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Caruana,F vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2024 2024Notable
Caruana,F vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
Saint Louis Blitz 2024 2024Notable
Caruana,F vs Dominguez Perez,L0-1
Saint Louis Rapid 2024 2024Notable
So,W vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2024 2024Notable
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Keymer,Vincent1-0
57th Biel GM1 Rapid 2024 2024Notable
Firouzja,Alireza vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
12th Norway Chess 2024 2024Notable

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