C59

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation

Key moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

The Italian Game is one of the oldest chess openings, where White develops the bishop to c4 targeting the f7 square. It leads to open, tactical positions with clear attacking ideas for White. The Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) and Two Knights Defence (3...Nf6) are the main branches.

History & Notable Players

One of the oldest recorded openings, analysed in Italian manuscripts from the 15th century. It experienced a massive renaissance in the 2010s when top players like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana adopted it as a main weapon.

Best Games

Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Beliavsky, Alexander G1/2-1/2
Dortmund • 1998★ Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Jussupow, Artur1-0
Tilburg rapid • 1992★ Notable
Mednis, Edmar John vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
Wch U20 final-A • 1955★ Notable
Spassky, Boris V vs Geller, Efim P1/2-1/2
Gothenburg Interzonal • 1955★ Notable
Steinitz, William vs Chigorin, Mikhail0-1
World Championship 4th • 1892★ Notable
Steinitz, William vs Chigorin, Mikhail1-0
World Championship 4th • 1892★ Notable
Aronian,L vs So,W0-1
chess.com SpeedChess 2023 • 2023
Rapport,R vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
8th Gashimov Mem Blitz • 2022
Aronian,L vs Kamsky,G1-0
Chess.com RCC Wk19 Swiss • 2022
Aronian,L vs Ding Liren1-0
Tata Steel India Blitz • 2019
Rapport,R vs Ponomariov,R1/2-1/2
21st European Teams • 2017
Bologan,V vs Beliavsky,A1/2-1/2
40th Olympiad Open • 2012
Ponomariov, Ruslan vs Ponomariov, Boris1-0
Alicante op • 1997
Kasparov, Gary vs Timman, Jan H1-0
PCA/Intel-GP • 1994
Mikhalchishin, Adrian vs Geller, Efim P1/2-1/2
Dortmund-B • 1991
Sarana,A vs Nakamura,Hi0-1
Titled Tue 1st Apr Early • 2025
Rapport,R vs Esipenko,Andrey1-0
Esipenko-Rapport m Blitz • 2025
Kokoszczynski,Jan vs Shirov,A1-0
Titled Tue 4th Jun Late • 2024
Duda,J vs Weetik,V1-0
Titled Tue 2nd Apr Early • 2024
Aronian,L vs Sargsyan,Shant1/2-1/2
AI Cup Play-In 2023 • 2023

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