Italian Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Move-by-move interactive walkthrough on ChessLvl.
One of the oldest openings in chess. White develops the light-squared bishop to c4, targeting the weak f7 square in Black's position.
The Italian Game begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. Learn the main line move by move, understand what each move accomplishes, and try the position against ChessLvl's AI rivals. The interactive board on this page walks you through the standard sequence with explanations at each step.
The Italian Game is a strong choice for players who want to reach reliable middlegame positions without memorizing dozens of moves of theory. It's played at every level from beginner club games to world-championship matches.
After studying this opening, play it in real games against the rivals in the ChessLvl ladder. Repetition beats variety — playing the same opening 100 times gives you deep structural knowledge that no amount of video-watching can match.