Italian Game: Complete Guide

The beginner's classical opening and a professional's weapon — direct development and quick castling. Drill every main line against an adaptive engine, backed by real Lichess win rates and Stockfish evaluations.

69 variations 667,219,339 total games Avg Stockfish +0.48

Play the main line: Italian Game

Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.

Practice every variation in this family with AI coaching after every game.

Create a free account →

All 69 variations of the Italian Game

Openings & Plans Italian Game ECO C50 153M games Anti-Openings Italian Game ECO C50 153M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense ECO C55 51M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano ECO C50 49M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense ECO C50 26M games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights ECO C50 22M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: Nc3 ECO C50 16M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: Nc3 ECO C55 16M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense ECO C50 13M games Anti-Openings Italian Game: Bc5 ECO C50 13M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: Ng5 ECO C55 13M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: d3 ECO C50 12M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: d3 ECO C55 12M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: c3 ECO C50 8M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: O-O ECO C50 8M games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit ECO C50 8M games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit ECO C50 8M games Anti-Openings Italian Game: h6 ECO C50 6M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: d4 ECO C50 6M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: d3 ECO C50 5M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense ECO C50 4M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: d4 ECO C55 4M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: d4 ECO C50 3M games Anti-Openings Italian Game: Nf6 ECO C50 3M games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: Nxd4 ECO C50 3M games Anti-Openings Italian Game: d6 ECO C50 3M games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit ECO C50 2M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: c3 ECO C50 2M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Giuoco Piano: b4 ECO C50 2M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: d4 ECO C50 2M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: d3 ECO C50 2M games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: Nxe4 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: Nc3 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Nd4 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: Nc3 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: d4 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: O-O ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: h6 ECO C50 1M games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Be7 ECO C50 997K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: O-O ECO C50 919K games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: Bc5 ECO C50 902K games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: c3 ECO C50 843K games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit: exf5 ECO C50 777K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: O-O ECO C55 762K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: c3 ECO C50 735K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: O-O ECO C50 669K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: f6 ECO C50 581K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: d3 ECO C50 544K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: Nc3 ECO C50 537K games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: d6 ECO C50 536K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: c3 ECO C50 534K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Paris Defense: h3 ECO C50 462K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: c3 ECO C55 429K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Qf6 ECO C50 385K games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: d3 ECO C50 369K games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit: d3 ECO C50 364K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense: a3 ECO C50 316K games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: Be7 ECO C50 298K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: f5 ECO C50 293K games Openings & Plans Italian: Four Knights: Bb4 ECO C50 250K games Anti-Openings Italian Game: a6 ECO C50 185K games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit: d4 ECO C50 168K games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit: Nc3 ECO C50 151K games Anti-Openings Italian Game: g6 ECO C50 107K games Openings & Plans Italian Game: Nh6 ECO C50 72K games Gambits Italian Game: Rousseau Gambit: Bxg8 ECO C50 53K games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: Nc3 ECO C50 9K games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: Nxe5 ECO C50 9K games Gambits Italian Game: Blackburne-Kostić Gambit: O-O ECO C50 8K games

Frequently asked questions about the Italian Game

What is the italian in chess?

The Italian is a chess opening family with 69 variations covered on Chessy. Over 667 million Lichess games have reached these positions across all rating levels.