8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4

Shown from White's side. ECO C50.

Opening guide · an opening for White

Italian Game

The Italian Game is a chess opening for White that starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. The bishop goes to its most active square and aims at f7, the weakest point in Black's position, while White gets ready to castle. It is one of the oldest openings and a common first opening for new players.

Games in our sample
160,322
White wins
50.0%
Draws
4.0%
Black wins
46.0%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Italian Game scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 100012,2815.5%51.6%4.1%44.4%
1000 to 119921,9296.9%50.8%3.4%45.8%
1200 to 139931,2216.7%50.3%3.6%46.1%
1400 to 159935,4045.8%50.2%3.5%46.4%
1600 to 179930,8014.8%49.8%4.1%46.1%
1800 to 199918,6773.6%49.0%4.4%46.6%
2000 to 21997,3262.8%47.6%5.5%46.8%
2200 and over2,6832.4%43.3%12.4%44.3%
All ratings160,3225.1%50.0%4.0%46.0%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Italian Game that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Anti-Fried Liver Defense

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6

    20,164 games · White 51.2% · draws 4.2% · Black 44.6%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Paris Defense

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6

    12,766 games · White 50.6% · draws 4.1% · Black 45.3%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Giuoco Piano

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

    12,611 games · White 47.0% · draws 3.9% · Black 49.0%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3

    10,598 games · White 51.0% · draws 4.5% · Black 44.5%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5

    9,562 games · White 48.7% · draws 3.9% · Black 47.4%

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  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3

    8,279 games · White 49.3% · draws 4.5% · Black 46.2%

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Ideas for White

  • Castle early, then build a pawn centre with c3 and d4.
  • Keep the bishop aimed at f7: many quick attacks start there.

Ideas for Black

  • Answer with 3...Bc5, the Giuoco Piano, or 3...Nf6, the Two Knights Defense.
  • After 3...Nf6 White can play 4. Ng5 against f7. Know your reply before you choose that line.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game?
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. In the ECO classification it is filed under C50.
How does the Italian Game score?
In 160,322 games with it in our sample, White won 50.0%, 4.0% were drawn and Black won 46.0%.
At which ratings is the Italian Game played most?
Among players rated 1000 to 1199 it is 6.9% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 2.4%, is among players rated 2200 and over.
Which line of the Italian Game is played most?
Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6), with 20,164 games in our sample.

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