Learning openings requires understanding chess notation, the system for naming pieces and moves. Get a refresher on chess notation here!

LEARN CHESS ON DUOLINGO

Italian Game: 3 quick facts

  • The Italian Game is also known as the Giuoco Piano, or Italian for “quiet game.”
  • It’s one of the oldest chess openings, dating back to the early 1600s.
  • While playable at top levels, the Italian is often recommended for players who are just starting out, since it follows classical opening principles and contains rapid piece development.

Italian Game: The moves

Here are the moves for the Italian Game:

💡
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

A gif showing the opening moves for the Italian Game: 1. White’s e-pawn moves to e4 and Black’s e-pawn moves to e5. 2. White’s knight moves to f3 and Black’s knight moves to c6. 3. White’s bishop moves to c4.

With 3… Bc5 4. b4, this opening leads to the Evans Gambit, an aggressive, attacking line for White.

A great place to start

The Italian Game is a great pick for a first opening to learn and can be played throughout a chess player’s career.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!