Italian Variation

The Italian Variation arises when White answers 2...Nf6 with 3. Bc4. Instead of dealing with the attack on e4, White develops the bishop toward f7, as in the Italian Game. The same position can also come from the Bishop's Opening after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Nf3. Because the e4-pawn is left undefended, the move often comes from club players following Italian habits. It can also be a deliberate pawn offer: after 3...Nxe4, White usually intends 4. Nc3, the Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit. At master level it remains an occasional alternative to 3. Nxe5 and 3. d4.

Black has several replies. The most common in the online database is 3...Nc6, which transposes to the Two Knights Defense. The engine's first choice, 3...Nxe4, accepts the pawn, and Black scores better with it than with any other reply. 3...Bc5 is nearly as popular as the capture, and 3...d5 is an aggressive try that challenges the center at once. Engines rate the position as slightly better for Black, since White's third move does nothing to protect e4.

In the Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit, Black can keep the pawn with 4...Nxc3 5. dxc3 f6, using the f-pawn to support e5. After 6. O-O, accuracy is required. 6...Bc5?? fails to 7. Nxe5, whereas 6...d6 and 6...Nc6 are sound. The sharper 6. Nh4 aims for a quick attack on the black king. Black keeps a small edge with careful defense: 6...g6 7. f4 Qe7 8. f5 Qg7 9. Qg4 Kd8. Black can also return the material with 4...Nxc3 5. dxc3 c6 6. Nxe5 d5, gaining time against the c4-bishop and equalizing.

A third option, 4...Nc6, transposes to the Italian Four Knights Game. After 5. Nxe4, the fork 5...d5 wins the piece back. 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe4 d5 gives Black the bishop pair and a strong center. After 5. O-O Nxc3 6. dxc3, Bobby Fischer considered that 6...Qe7 leaves White without compensation for the pawn. 6...f6 reaches the gambit's main line by transposition, and 6...Be7 and 6...h6 are further possibilities. Because Black has several good ways to meet it, the gambit is not regarded as entirely sound.