Chess Opening Secrets Revealed*: Chess: Understanding the Giuoco Piano Opening (Two Knights) Part I

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 Line

Also available:
Understanding the Giuoco Piano
(Two Knights) Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-giuoco-piano-two.html
Understanding the Giuoco Piano
(Two Knights) Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-giuoco-piano-two_13.html

1 e4

Controls d5 and f5 plus opens up a diagonal
for the f1 bishop and Queen.

1 ... e5

Black imitates White with the same idea in mind.

2 Nf3

Mobilization with attack.

2 ... Nc6

Protecting the e5 pawn from 3 Nxe5.

3 Bc4

Please observe that the bishop fires at
Black's weakest point, f7.

3 ... Nf6

3 ... Bc5
3 ... Be7
3 ... d6
3 ... g6
3 ... h6
3 ... Nd4
3 ... f5
3 ... Qe7
3 ... a6
3 ... Qf6

4 Ng5

A twofold maneuver. The knight protects e4 from
4 ... Nxe4 and also threatens 5 Nxf7.

4 d3
4 d4 (Max Lange Attack)
4 d4 (Canal's Variation)
4 Bb5
4 Nc3
4 O-O
4 Qe2
4 c3

4 ... d5

Shielding f7 from the c4 bishop and also opening
up a diagonal for the c8 one.

4 ... Bc5
4 ... Nxe4

5 exd5

5 ... Na5

5 ... b5
5 ... Nd4
5 ... Nxd5
5 ... Bg4
5 ... Nb4

Also possible is:

5 ... Nxd5

5 ... b5
5 ... Nd4
5 ... Bg4
5 ... Nb4

6 d4

The g5 knight is now protected from ... Qxg5 by the
c1 bishop. Furthermore, White hopes to open up the
d-file (dxe5) and subsequently put additional
pressure on Black's d5 knight.

6 Nc3
6 Qh5
6 O-O
6 Nxf7

Alternatively, White can play the Fried Liver
Attack:

6 Nxf7

Forcing the King out into the open and pinning the
d5 knight after

6 ... Kxf7

7 Qf3+

7 ... Ke6

8 Nc3

More pressure on d5. Please observe how that point
is attacked thrice but protected twice.

8 O-O

8 ... Ncb4

Covers d5 a third time and also threatens ... Nxc2+.

8 ... Nce7

9 Qe4

(i) Preventing ... Nxc2+.
(ii) Getting up close and personal with Black's King.
This move cancels out the e5 pawn's d4 and f4
influence because it pins that piece to the enemy
King.

9 Kd1
9 a3
9 O-O
9 Bb3

9 ... c6

(i) Covers the vulnerable d5 a fourth time.
(ii) Enables Nb4-a6-c7, which also strengthens d5.

9 ... b5
9 ... Bc5
9 ... Be7

10 a3

10 d4
10 f4

10 ... Na6

10 ... Nxc2
10 ... b5
10 ... Qa5
10 ... Kf6

11 d4

(i) Pressurizes e5.
(ii) Liberates the c1 bishop.

11 O-O
11 Qf3
11 f4

11 ... Nac7

It's all about consolidating d5.

11 ... Qd6
11 ... Kd7
11 ... Be7
11 ... b5

12 Bf4

The bishop comes out to add more pressure on e5.

12 Qxe5+
12 f4
12 dxe5

12 ... Kf7

Since he's no longer needed in the battle for d5,
the King retreats from the central heat.
He also enables the c8 bishop's development to e6.

12 ... Kf6
12 ... Bd6
12 ... Qe7

13 Bxe5

Winning e5.

13 dxe5
13 Qxe5

13 ... Be6

13 ... a6
13 ... a5

14 O-O

14 Qf3+
14 Nxd5

14 ... Be7

14 ... Nf6
14 ... Qe7
14 ... Rc8

15 f4

Cements e5 but more importantly it menaces
f4-f5-fxe6+/f4-f5-f6-fxe7+. The idea is to
get the f1 rook involved in the king-hunt
at the expense of the e6 or e7 bishop.

15 Rae1
15 Rfe1
15 Qf3+

15 ... Nf6

(i) Attacks the Queen.
(ii) Exposes the c4 bishop to 16... Bxc4.
(iii) Obstructs further the f1 rook's view
of the Black monarch.

15 ... Nxc3
15 ... b5

16 Bxe6+

16 Qd3
16 Qe2

16 ... Nxe6

16 ... Kxe6
16 ... Kf8

17 Qe2

17 Qd3
17 Qe3

17 ... c5

Destabilizing White's center and setting up
for a fighting middle game.

17 ... b5
17 ... g6

Back to 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5
5 exd5 Nxd5 6 d4

6 Nc3
6 Qh5
6 O-O
6 Nxf7

6 ... exd4

The White Queen can no longer avail herself
of the d-file.

(Or 6 ... Be7 7 Nxf7 Kxf7 8 Qf3+ Ke6 9 Nc3 Ncb4
10 Qe4 and Black is in trouble)

6 ... Be6
6 ... Bb4+
6 ... Be7
6 ... Nxd4

7 0-0

7 Qe2+
7 Nxf7

7 ... Be6

Since f7 and d5 are Black's most vulnerable points,
he urgently covers them with the bishop.

7 ... f6
7 ... Be7
7 ... h6
7 ... Nce7
7 ... Ncb4

8 Re1

Pinning the bishop plus threatening 9 Nxe6 followed
by 10 Rxe6.

8 Nxe6
8 Qe2
8 Qh5

8 ... Qd7

8 ... Be7
8 ... Nce7

9 Nxf7

Again, the idea is to force the Black monarch out
into the open, where he can be subjected to
further attack.

9 Nxe6
9 c3

9 ... Kxf7

Not 9 ... Qxf7 because of 10 Bxd5.

9 ... Bb4
9 ... Qxf7

10 Qf3+

10 Rxe6
10 Nc3

10 ... Kg8

10 ... Kg6
10 ... Bf5
10 ... Nf6

11 Rxe6

11 Nc3
11 c3
11 Nd2

Black can't take the rook with his Queen due
to 12 Bxd5. Presently, he needs to attend to
the attack on d5 and so he responds with

11 ... Rd8

11 ... Ncb4
11 ... Nd8

12 Bg5

12 Re4
12 Qe4
12 Qe2

12 ... Qxe6

12 ... Ncb4
12 ... Na5

13 Bxd8.

13 Nc3
13 Na3

13 ... Qe1+

13 ... Ncb4
13 ... Ne5
13 ... Nce7

14 Bf1

14 ... Qe6

14 ... Qe5
14 ... Nxd8

15 Bh4

15 Bg5
15 Bc4

Back to 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 Ng5 d5
5 exd5 Na5

This move involves a long-term sacrifice,
and it's viewed as Black's best option.

6 Bb5+

6 d3
6 Be2
6 Bb3

6 ... c6

6 ... Bd7
6 ... Nd7

7 dxc6

7 Bf1
7 Be2

7 ... bxc6

7 ... Nxc6
7 ... Ke7

8 Be2

If White wants to, he can win another pawn
by 8 Qf3 (preventing the c6 pawn from
capturing the bishop because of Qxa8)
8 ... Rb8 9 Bxc6+ Nxc6 10 Qxc6+ Nd7
(the g5 knight is now attacked by the
Queen) 11 d3 Be7, but Black gets good
compensation for it.

8 Qf3
8 Bf1
8 Ba4
8 Bd3

8 ... h6

Kicking the knight back.

8 ... Bc5
8 ... Bd6

9 Nf3

Or 9 Nh3 Bc5, when Black gets good play for the pawn.

9 Nh3

9 ... e4

Restless times for the knight. This pawn push
also gains central space.

9 ... Bd6
9 ... Qc7

10 Ne5

10 Ng1
10 O-O

10 ... Bd6

Also playable is 10 ... Qd4 (attacking the e5 knight)
11 f4 (protecting it) 11 ... Bc5 (f2 is under fire)
12 Rf1 Bd6 13 c3 Qb6, when Black doesn't look bad,
compensationwise. 10 ... Qc7 is another solid
possibility.

10 ... Qc7
10 ... Bc5
10 ... Qd4
10 ... Qd5

11 d4