Chessy
How to Play Against the Italian Game
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, White aims the bishop at f7 and prepares a central squeeze. Stockfish calls it nearly equal (+0.09) — you're playing Black in this drill, so your job is holding that equality and converting it into winning chances. Try it below.
Practice playing against the Italian Game
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Create a free account →What White wants from the Italian
3.Bc4 (the Italian bishop) targets the f7 pawn and sets up either a kingside attack or a quiet positional buildup with d3/c3/0-0. White steers toward a slow, maneuvering game where precise pawn structure matters. Across 153 million Lichess games White scores 50.9% to Black's 45.3% — the position favors White overall, so Black needs a plan, not just natural moves.
Black's main replies compared
- Bc5 (Giuoco Piano) — recommended — White scores only 49.4% in 47.9M games, and it's Stockfish's best move. Mirror the diagonal, fight for the center.
- Nf6 (Two Knights) — the most aggressive try, but White scores 52.0% in 45.8M games — the worst practical result for Black among the main options.
- h6 — played in 26.7M games but scores the same 52.0% for White; the engine rates it as an inaccuracy (57cp lost).
- d6 — solid but passive; White scores 51.4% in 10.7M games (51cp inaccuracy per engine).
- Nd4 — an adventurous trick; White scores only 46.5% in 8.1M games (best practical outcome for Black), but the engine penalizes it 92cp — trappy in blitz, not recommended as a main weapon.
- Be7 — safe but gives up the diagonal war; White scores 47.6% in 4.4M games.
A concrete Black setup to learn
Play Bc5 (Giuoco Piano). From there the plan is consistent: develop with ...Nf6, castle kingside, and push ...d6 to solidify the center. Avoid ...h6 early — the engine marks it as an inaccuracy and it concedes the initiative without compensation. The Giuoco Piano keeps the position balanced while giving Black real active piece play, which is what the data reflects at 49.4% for White.
Reading the numbers honestly
The overall Italian scoreline (White 50.9%, Black 45.3%) tells a real story: this is a White-friendly opening if Black drifts. But the spread across Black's choices is striking — Nf6 and h6 both allow White 52.0%, while Bc5 cuts that to 49.4%. That 2.6-point gap at Black's first reply is actionable. Pick Bc5, learn its plans, and the data says you're already playing the best-scoring practical defense.
Results across 153,909,405 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc5 | 47,878,101 | 49.4% |
| Nf6 | 45,826,235 | 52.0% |
| h6 | 26,671,802 | 52.0% |
| d6 | 10,710,072 | 51.4% |
| Nd4 | 8,067,311 | 46.5% |
| Be7 | 4,362,309 | 47.6% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best response to the Italian Game as Black?
Bc5 (the Giuoco Piano). It's Stockfish's top choice and limits White to 49.4% across nearly 48 million Lichess games — better than any other common Black reply.
Is the Italian Game dangerous for Black?
It's the most popular 1.e4 e5 line for a reason — White scores 50.9% overall. But with Bc5, Black cuts that to 49.4%, making it a near-equal fight. The danger comes from drifting without a plan.
Why not play Nf6 against the Italian?
Nf6 (Two Knights) is the most ambitious try, but White scores 52.0% in 45.8 million games — the worst practical outcome for Black among the main replies. Bc5 is both more accurate and better-scoring.
What about Nd4 — the fork trick?
Nd4 produces the best practical win rate for Black (White scores only 46.5% in 8.1M games), but Stockfish penalizes it 92 centipawns. It's a trappy blitz weapon, not a reliable main-line defense.
How many games feature the Italian Game?
Over 154 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game position. White wins 50.9%, Black wins 45.3%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.