The central idea
The Italian Game develops White's king bishop to c4 after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. It teaches quick development, central tension, and the choice between a quiet maneuvering game and direct pressure on f7.
Typical plans
- Castle and connect the rooks before committing to a central break.
- Use c3 and d4 when a central expansion is justified.
- Keep pressure on the center and f7 without sacrificing development.
Common mistakes
- Chasing the f7 target while leaving the king uncastled.
- Playing d4 before checking tactical pressure on the center.
- Treating every Italian position as an attack rather than reading Black's setup.