Puzzles from the Italian Game
Rating 922Black to move. Find the best move.
Puzzle
Black to move. Find the best move.
Your move.
Solve it to see the moves
5 of 5 free puzzles left today
Opening
Italian Game
White develops the bishop to c4 and aims at f7, the weakest square in Black’s camp. The positions are open and easy to understand, which makes it a good first opening.
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
- Chosen by White
- 14,435 puzzles
- Average rating 1428
The position after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
What Italian Game puzzles look like
Counted from 14,435 puzzlesThe fork is the most common tactic in Italian Game puzzles, in 15% of them. 33% end in checkmate. The average puzzle rating is 1428.
Most common tactics
Ideas in the Italian Game
- Aim at f7The bishop on c4 and a knight coming to g5 can attack f7 together. Black has to know the defence.
- Build the centre with c3 and d4White prepares d4 with c3 to take space with a pair of pawns.
- Castle earlyBoth kings usually castle short. The side that finishes development first gets the initiative.