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Giuoco Piano

Italian Game

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

Black mirrors White's development with 3...Bc5, the "quiet game" -- which White can steer into the classical main line or the Evans Gambit.

Fun fact: Giuoco Piano is Italian for "quiet game", and the even slower lines with 4.d3 are called the Giuoco Pianissimo, the "very quiet game". Source

Practice this line

The idea

Black develops the bishop to its most active square, mirroring White, so both sides now have a bishop aimed at the opponent's weakest square: f7 for White and f2 for Black.

The bishop on c5 is active, but it can also become a target. Much of the play revolves around whether White can use it to gain time in the center.

Plans for White

The most direct plan is c3 followed by d4, building a pawn center and gaining time by attacking the bishop. The Evans Gambit (4.b4) goes further and gives up a pawn to win even more time against it.

The quieter alternative is 4.d3 with c3, the Giuoco Pianissimo. White keeps the center closed, castles, and maneuvers slowly. In recent years this has become the most popular choice among top players.

Plans for Black

Bring the king's knight to f6 quickly, putting pressure on e4, and castle. When White pushes d4, answer with ...d5 or exchange on d4 at the right moment.

Don't stay passive: if White gets d4 in for free and keeps the center, Black's pieces run out of good squares.

Lines from here