Giuoco Piano Game: Evans Accepted, Pierce Defense, Anderssen
Giuoco Piano Game
Definition
Literally “Quiet Game” in Italian, the Giuoco Piano is the classical starting point of the Italian Opening and arises after the moves
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4 Bc5
How it is Used
Because both sides develop rapidly toward the center, the Giuoco Piano serves as a gateway to many famous sub-variations (e.g., the Evans Gambit, Two Knights Defense, and Italian Game d3 systems). Players who want lively, open play without entering the immense theoretical jungles of the Ruy Lopez often choose the “Italian” instead.
Strategic Significance
- Center Control: White’s early d2–d4 (or slower d3) contests the e- and d-files while Black counters with …Nf6 and …d6 or …d5.
- Piece Activity: The uncommitted pawn structure leaves diagonals open for both bishops, giving rise to tactical opportunities on f7 and f2.
- Pawn Breaks: The thematic pawn breaks are d4 for White and …d5 for Black; timing is critical.
Historical Notes
The opening goes back to the 16th century. Gioachino Greco, one of the earliest chess authors, produced dazzling attacks from these positions. Later it became the laboratory for giants such as Adolf Anderssen, Paul Morphy, and Wilhelm Steinitz, each adding strategic depth to what started as a purely tactical battleground.
Illustrative Game
Morphy vs. Duke Karl / Count Isouard, Paris 1858 – the famed “Opera Game” – begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5, showcasing rapid development and a crushing attack on f7.
Interesting Fact
Despite its name, the Giuoco Piano is rarely “quiet” at master level—modern engines rate many lines as razor-sharp, frequently exceeding a “0.00” evaluation only after twenty-plus moves of perfect play!
Evans Accepted
Definition
“Evans Accepted” refers to the variation of the Evans Gambit in which Black accepts the offered b-pawn:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4 Bc5
- b4 Bxb4
Key Ideas for White
- Play c2–c3 swiftly to gain a tempo on the bishop and prepare d2–d4.
- Castle quickly (often with 6.O-O) and unleash a central pawn avalanche.
- Crush f7 or pin the e-pawn with Ba3 in many sub-lines.
Key Ideas for Black
- Return material at a convenient moment (…d7–d5 or …Ba5–b6) to blunt White’s initiative.
- Trade queens if possible; many “accepted” lines lead to favorable endgames for the defender.
Model Game
Kasparov – Piket, Tilburg 1993 featured 4…Bxb4 and a modern defensive setup with …d6 and …Nf6, yet Kasparov’s rook lift Rh1–h3–f3 forced resignation on move 24.
Anecdote
In the 1995 PCA World Championship, Kasparov trotted out the Evans Gambit against Anand—not for a surprise win but for a quick draw (Game 10). The psychological statement, however, echoed Capablanca’s words: “Even the most hackneyed gambits retain venom if wielded with modern understanding.”
Pierce Defense
Definition
Within the Evans Gambit Accepted, the Pierce Defense arises after
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bc4 Bc5
- b4 Bxb4
- c3 Ba5
Strategic Themes
- Counter-pressure on c3: By sitting on a5, the bishop eyes the c3-knight that will eventually land there, hampering White’s central break.
- Delayed …d7–d5: Black aims for …Nf6, …d6, and only then …d5, timing the central counter-strike so that Ba5 supports b4–square tactics.
- Material Management: Many modern advocates (e.g., Nigel Short) recommend giving back the pawn with …d5 or …Na5 at an opportune moment to neutralize White’s initiative.
Typical Continuation
6.d4 exd4 7.O-O Nf6 leads to double-edged middlegames where a single tempo often decides whether Black survives the onslaught or gets mated on f7.
Interesting Tidbit
The Pierce Defense was once considered risky because the a5-bishop seems “out of play.” Modern engines, however, show that with precise timing of …d5, Black can equalize—illustrating how computer analysis has rehabilitated many 19th-century sidelines.
Anderssen Defense
Definition
The term “Anderssen Defense” can describe two related concepts, both honoring the great German tactician Adolf Anderssen:
- King’s Gambit Declined/Counter-Gambit: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5! – an immediate counterattack on f2.
- Evans Gambit, Pierce Line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.O-O d3 – sometimes labeled the “Anderssen Variation” because Anderssen popularized the early …d7–d6–d5 or …d6/d5 ideas to return material and unwind.
How It Is Used
In both instances, Black willingly confronts White’s gambit head-on, declining (or returning) material for swift development and counter-play. Modern databases show the line appearing sporadically in rapid and blitz, usually in the hands of enterprising attackers.
Strategic Considerations
- Immediate Activity: …Bc5 vs. the King’s Gambit hits f2 and prevents Qh5+ ideas.
- Material Imbalance: In the Evans line, …d3 hands the pawn back but interferes with White’s development, often forcing the bishop to retreat before castling.
- Tactical Minefield: Both sides must know forcing sequences; one misstep can lead to a miniature.
Notable Game
Anderssen himself used 2…Bc5 to beat M. Mayet in Berlin 1851, demonstrating a thematic queen sacrifice that ended in mate on f2—an evergreen attacking showpiece for generations of club players.
Fun Fact
When engines first examined 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5, evaluations hovered near “+1” for White. Deep neural-network analysis has since brought the assessment much closer to equality, proving Anderssen’s 19th-century intuition surprisingly prescient.