We are starting our puzzle challenge with the one of the most classical and beautiful opening in chess, the Italian Opening.
What is the Italian Game?
In the Italian Opening White starts with the following moves:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4
The plan of White is straightforward. Develop quickly and aim at attacking the black pawn on the weak f7 square. With such a plan, White controls the centre, prepares an attack on the kingside, and retains manoeuvrability.
There are two standard replies of the opponent: …Bc5 (Giuoco Piano) and… Nf6 (Two Knights Defense).
History About the Italian Game
The Italian game appeared in the 16th century. Such great masters as Gioachino Greco and Giulio Cesare Polerio already analyzed the lines of this game. This opening was one of the first in history and was one of the cornerstones of the classical chess theory. The origin of the name can also be found in the fact that chess was very popular in Renaissance Italy.
Puzzle Section
It’s time to get hands-on with some theory. Below are presented five puzzles from regular Italian Game positions. Solving them will help you to improve your ability to recognize tactics, sacrifices, and the positional motifs that made Italian Game such an attractive choice for generations of players.
Try to find the best move from the below positions. Then check for the solution if your solution was right or there was a better move.
Puzzle 1 – White to Play
Solution: This is a tricky solution because black is threatening to play b2 to capture the bounded rook. However, there is castling option for white. But most importantly, what if I tell you white here has a chance to win a queen?
For that, you’ll have to first give a check to black’s king and work your bishop and queen together. King has to move now.
Now you simply play a discovered attack by playing Be7+ and black’s queen is hanging just like that. Therefore, even in the opening or in the middle game, you should always calculate if there are possible checks available or you’re under attacked.
Puzzle 2 – White to Play
Solution: Your queen is under a threat from the knight. However, you can also win this exact knight with a little effort and creative thinking. You should always watch your position, since your knight is positioned well in your opponent’s territory.
You take advantage of it and threat a direct checkmate with Qc2. Now your opponent has to play g6 to avoid checkmate and you win the knight with Qxc4.
Puzzle 3 – Black to Play
Solution: Here, black’s f3 pawn is dominating due to the hold of g2 and e2 square. if you’re thinking about checkmate, it requires a sacrifice.
If you thought about the rook, then spot on! Because white’s knight at g1 is the only problem black has since it is consuming e2 square and the queen cannot hop in. But if the rook is sacrificed, there would be a free e1 square and then easy checkmate!
Puzzle 4 – Black to Play
Solution: This is quite an easy one if your pattern recognition is strong. Here, black’s queen is under attacked. However, if you look closely, you can check your opponent with Qc5+ and win a free bishop.
Puzzle 5 – Black to Play
Solution: This another position where you can win a big material. But big material comes with big strategy or sacrifice so you always have to think out of the box. Here, you can capture Nxd4!! A brilliant move where you hang up your rook and knight both.
First, it looks like black has blundered. But if white captures the knight with Qxd4, then white’s queen is a gone because of the bishop pin with Bc5!..
So that’s it for the puzzles related to the Italian game. Enjoy your work on these puzzles. Next time, we will present puzzles from another classical opening… maybe from Ruy Lopez or Scotch Opening. Keep following The New England Chess School to learn and enjoy with more puzzles.