Giuoco Piano or Italian Opening.
1 P-K4
P-K4
2 Kt-KB3
Kt-QB3
3 B-B4
B-B4
The continuations 4 (]X-B3 or 4 P-Q3 lead to placid developments, for instance,
4 P-Q3
Kt-B3
5 Kt-B3
P-Q3
6 B-K3
B-Kt3
7 P-KR3
B-K3
8 B-Kt3
P-KR3
9 O-O ...
The task of detecting a good line of play becomes complicated only when the question arises where to Castle and after the opponent has arrived at his decision. But, after all, it seems that this decision, however arrived at, does not in itself constitute the turning point of the game provided the contestants continue to play up to the mark until the end.
The Giuoco Piano presents problems in abundance as soon as White assumes the aggressive in trying to build a centre of Pawns. In that case he has to discard the quiet continuation 4 X-B3 or 4 P-Q3 and has to attempt to push the QP to Q4 supported by the BP.
This end can be accomplished only by immediately playing 4 P-B3. If White Castles first, the attempt comes too late, because Black replies X-B3, attacks the KP and never yields another opportunity for White to obtain the supremacy in the centre.
4 P-B3 ...
Now the Black KP, in view of the threatening attack by White's 5 P-Q4, can be held in position only with 4 ... Q-K2. But thereby Black loses a valuable move. White might follow up with
5 O-O
P-Q3;
6 P-Q4
B-Kt3;
7 Kt-R3
Kt-B3;
8 B-Q5 and eventually X-B4 with pressure on the KP and the King's file.
4 ... Kt-B3
This is the move that keeps a perfect balance.
5 P-Q4
PxP
6 PxP
B-Kt5ch.
Black must not lose any time, the QP strives to advance to Q4 in order to break up the White centre.
7 B-Q2 ...
Also 7 Kt-B3, which involves the sacrifice of a Pawn, must be considered. But against other moves, such as K-B1 Black has no real difficulties to surmount.
7 ... BxBch.
If 7 ... KtxKP Black must lose time moving his King about;
8 BxB
KtxB;
9 BxPch.
KxB;
10 Q-Kt3ch.
P-Q4;
11 QxKt
R-K1;
12 O-O. Black has nothing better than 12 ..., K-X1, whereupon
13 Kt-B3 and White has an advantage.
8 QKtxB
P-Q4
Black can here break the centre by 8 ... KtxKP; but White continues
9 P-Q5
KtxKt;
10 QxKt
Kt-K2;
11 P-Q6
PxP;
12 O-O. White, having the better development, easily wins the two weak Queen's Pawns and retains an advantage.
9 PxP
KKtxP
10 O-O
O-O
11 R-K1
QKt-K2
12 R-QB1
Although White is ahead in development he has an isolated QP which may become an object of attack and Black has a strongly posted X at Q4.
If, for instance, 12 ... P-QB3;
13 P-KR3 to prepare for X-K4, White has the superiority on some Black squares such as K5 and QB5 and perhaps also on Q6.
The Opening becomes very lively if White sacrifices a Pawn by
7 Kt-B3
KtxKP
8 O-O ...
One of the oldest variations and a very fine one runs as follows: 8 ... KtxKt;
9 PxKt
BxP;
10 Q-Kt3
BxR;
11 BxPch.
K-B1;
12 B-Kt5
Kt-K2;
13 Kt-K5
BxP;
14 B-Kt6 and wins easily. Similarly 13 ... P-Q4;
14 Q-KB3
B-B4;
15 B-K6.
8 ... BxKt
If 8 ... KtxKt;
9 PxKt
P-Q4;
10 PxB
PxB;
11 R-K1ch.
Kt-K2;
12 Q-K2
B-K3;
13 Kt-Kt5
Q-Q2;
14 KtxB
PxKt;
15 QxBP
Kt-Q4;
16 P-QR4
O-O;
17 B-Q2. The Ending is presumably even.
9 P-Q5 ...
the Moeller attack.
9 ... B-B3
Another good move is 9 ... Kt-K4;
10 PxB
KtxB;
11 Q-Q4
P-KB4!,
12 QxQKt
P-Q3;
13 Kt-Q4
O-O;
14 P-B3
Kt-B4;
15 R-K1
K-R1. White has a firm position, particularly with Knight on Q4, and will therefore be able to stand the Pawn minus, but he is far from having an advantage. All other moves for Black such as 9 ... Kt-K2 or 9 ... O-O are appreciably weaker.
10 R-K1
Kt-K2
11 RxKt
P-Q3
If Black Castles, the QP is sacrificed, as is the rule in such cramped positions. After 11 ... O-O;
12 P-Q6
PxP;
13 B-B4
BxP;
14 BxP
Kt-B4;
15 BxR
BxR;
16 Q-Q5
Kt-R3 (the only move);
17 B-K7 followed by 18 [!)B-B6 and wins.
Again 15 ... P-Q4;
16 QxP with advantage. Or 13 ... B-K4;
14 KtxB
PxKt;
15 Q-Q6
Kt-B4;
16 QxKP
P-Q3;
17 Q-Kt5 with the better End-game. At last 13 ... P-Q4;
14 BxP
BxP;
15 R-Kt1
KtxB;
16 QxKt
B-R6;
17 R-Kt3
B-K2;
18 QR-K3 and wins.
12 QB-Kt5
BxB
13 KtxB
O-O
If 13 ... B-B4;
14 Q-B3.
14 KtxRP
KxKt
Not 14 ... B-B4;
15 R-R4
Kt-Kt3;
16 R-R5.
15 Q-R5ch.
K-Kt1
16 R-R4
P-KB4
17 Q-R7ch.
K-B2
18 R-R6
R-KKt1
19 R-K1
Q-B1
White can now only at best obtain a draw. Rubinstein in Ldrobock i Schack demonstrates the following line of play.
20 B-Kt5
R-R1
21 QxR
PxR
22 Q-R7ch.
K-B3
23 RxKt
QxR
24 QxRPch., with Perpetual Check.