Theoria
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Italian Game

Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a4 a5

C54positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Bc4Bc5
  4. 4.c3Nf6
  5. 5.d3d6
  6. 6.O-OO-O
  7. 7.a4a5
841 games46%47%

A symmetrical Giuoco Pianissimo line in which 7. a4 a5 fixes the queenside pawns, leading to a slow, balanced maneuvering game.

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About the with a4 a5

This line of the Giuoco Pianissimo arises when White's space-gaining 7. a4 is answered by the symmetrical 7...a5. The pawn moves fix the queenside structure. White can no longer expand smoothly with b4, and both sides gain potential outposts on b4 and b5. Play remains slow and maneuvering. The usual continuations are 8. Nbd2, 8. h3 and 8. Be3. The engine rates the position as balanced, and online results are almost even.

Popular continuations