Key ideas
- The Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) is today played slowly, with c3, d3, castling and a long manoeuvring fight. The older c3 and d4 approach opens the centre at once.
- The Two Knights Defence (3...Nf6) invites 4.Ng5, attacking f7. After 4...d5 5.exd5, Black should play 5...Na5 rather than 5...Nxd5, which allows the Fried Liver Attack (6.Nxf7).
- The Evans Gambit (4.b4) offers a pawn to gain time for c3 and d4.
Plans for White
Pressure f7, castle early, and prepare d4 with c3. In slow lines, the bishop often retreats to b3 and the knight travels to g3.
Plans for Black
Develop with ...Nf6 and ...Bc5 or ...Be7, castle, and look for the ...d5 break.
Watch out
After 3...Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, the natural 5...Nxd5? allows 6.Nxf7!, the Fried Liver Attack, with a dangerous attack on Black's king.