C58

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense

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.

Best Games

Praggnanandhaa,R vs So,W1/2-1/2
12th Sinquefield Cup • 2025★ Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Keymer,Vincent1/2-1/2
Tata Steel India Blitz • 2024★ Notable
Firouzja,Alireza vs Caruana,F0-1
10th Sinquefield Cup • 2023★ Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Caruana,F1-0
11th Norway Chess 2023 • 2023★ Notable
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Ladan,Nicholas1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 17 • 2020★ Notable
Morozevich,A vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz • 2008★ Notable
Steinitz, William vs Chigorin, Mikhail0-1
World Championship 4th • 1892★ Notable
Steinitz, William vs Chigorin, Mikhail0-1
World Championship 4th • 1892★ Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Keymer,Vincent1-0
TechM GCL 2025 • 2025
Firouzja,Alireza vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
Esports World Cup 2025 • 2025
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Firouzja,Alireza1/2-1/2
Esports World Cup 2025 • 2025
Duda,J vs Aronian,L0-1
Superbet ROM Classic 2025 • 2025
Mendonca,Leon Luke vs Keymer,Vincent0-1
87th Tata Steel Masters • 2025
Praggnanandhaa,R vs Ju,Wenjun1-0
86th Tata Steel Masters • 2024
So,W vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
CCT Final KO 2023 • 2023
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Firouzja,Alireza0-1
AI Cup Div 1 L • 2023
Moussard,J vs Keymer,Vincent0-1
56th Biel GM Rapid 2023 • 2023
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Caruana,F1-0
chess.com SpeedChess 2022 • 2022
Aronian,L vs Nakamura,Hi1-0
Chess.com Rapid Wk4 KO • 2022
Vignesh,N R vs Erigaisi,Arjun1/2-1/2
54th Biel Master Open • 2021

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