Italian Game Knight Attack Polerio Suhle Defense
Italian Game
Definition
The Italian Game is one of the oldest recorded chess openings, arising after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. By placing the bishop on the dangerous c4–f7 diagonal as early as move three, White immediately eyes Black’s most vulnerable point (f7) and prepares to castle quickly while contesting the centre. ECO codes C50–C54 cover the main branches of the Italian Game.
Typical Move Order
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bc4 (entering the Italian Game proper)
At this juncture Black can choose between several major continuations, including 3…Bc5 (Giuoco Piano), 3…Nf6 (Two Knights Defence), and 3…Be7 (Hungarian Defence).
Strategic Ideas
- Rapid development and castling: Both sides typically castle kingside early, resulting in dynamic piece play.
- Control of the centre: Pawns on e4 and e5 are often challenged by d2-d4 or …d7-d6.
- Pressure on f7/f2: The Italian bishop and knight cooperate to create latent tactical threats. In many lines a well-timed Ng5 or …Ng4 can explode the position.
Historical Significance
The Italian Game appears in the very first printed chess book, Il Libro dell’Arte del Gioco (1561) by Gioachino Greco. For centuries it was the main open-game battleground; only in the late 19th century did the Ruy López surpass it in popularity. Modern grandmasters still employ the Italian at the highest level—in fact it experienced a renaissance in the mid-2010s thanks to Carlsen, Caruana and others who found rich strategic possibilities in seemingly “classical” positions.
Illustrative Game
Adams – Torre, New Orleans 1920, demonstrates a classic kingside attack stemming from the centuries-old Giuoco Piano.
Interesting Facts
- The name “Italian Game” is not just geographical; during the 16th–17th centuries Italian masters such as Greco, Polerio, and later Ponziani refined virtually every major line.
- Modern engines confirm that the humble move 4. c3 (leading to the Evans Gambit) yields White lasting compensation for the pawn—an assessment already voiced by Steinitz in the 1880s!
Knight Attack (Italian Game, Two Knights Defence)
Definition
The Knight Attack is the razor-sharp variation that occurs after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5. White’s knight lunges toward the sensitive f7-square, immediately threatening the notorious “Fried Liver” fork Nxf7. ECO codes C57–C58 cover these positions.
How It Arises
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bc4 Nf6 (Two Knights Defence)
- 4. Ng5 (Knight Attack)
Strategic Purpose
- Direct assault on f7: By vacating f3, White opens the c4–f7 bishop’s line and adds another attacker.
- Provocation: White encourages Black to weaken the centre (…d5) or accept structural damage.
- Imbalance: The position quickly becomes tactical; both sides must know precise theory or risk disaster before move 10.
Main Black Responses
- 4…d5 (the classical response, leading to Polerio lines)
- 4…Bc5!? (Traxler / Wilkes-Barre Counter-Attack, a swashbuckling gambit)
Historical / Famous Game
The celebrated “Lolli Game,” Paul Morphy – Johann Löwenthal, London 1858, features the Knight Attack culminating in a textbook mating net on f7.
Interesting Facts
- In scholastic circles the Knight Attack is often a rite of passage; many beginners score quick wins with Nxf7 “forks” before opponents learn the defensive resource 4…d5.
- In blitz chess the surprise weapon 4…Bc5!? still scores well, illustrating how double-edged this opening remains even in the engine era.
Polerio Bishop Check (Italian Game, Knight Attack)
Definition
The Polerio Bishop Check is a sub-variation of the Knight Attack that begins 4…d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+. Named after the 16th-century theorist Giulio Cesare Polerio, the line interposes a check on b5 to gain tempi and keep the extra pawn.
Move Sequence
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5
- 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ (Polerio Bishop Check)
Key Ideas
- Deflection of the c6-knight: 5…Na5 chases the bishop while guarding c4 and threatening c4–fork motifs.
- Tempo-gaining check: 6.Bb5+ forces Black to address the check, often with 6…c6, delaying recapture on d5.
- Pawn structure: White may emerge with an extra pawn but must weather Black’s lead in development.
Theoretical Status
Modern engines judge the position after 6…c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 to be dynamically balanced. Black sacrifices a pawn but seizes the initiative, open lines, and a dangerous a8–h1 bishop. Accurate play is required from both sides.
Notable Example
.Interesting Facts
- Polerio recorded this line circa 1590, making it one of the earliest documented opening traps in chess literature.
- The bishop check idea inspired later sacrifices such as the “Lolli Attack” (6.dxc6 instead of 6.Bb5+), showing how pre-modern analysis laid the groundwork for many romantic-era gambits.
Suhle Defense (Italian Game, Knight Attack, Polerio Variation)
Definition
The Suhle Defense is Black’s main reply to the Polerio Bishop Check, reached after 6…c6. The full, most common move order is:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6
- 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 (Suhle Defense)
It is named after the German master Johannes Minckwitz „Suhle” (sometimes credited to the older analyst Philipp Suhle, 1814–1897), who explored the line in 19th-century handbooks.
Strategic and Tactical Themes
- Counter-gambit spirit: Black offers a pawn (the d-pawn) in return for speedy development and open lines.
- Piece activity: After 7.dxc6 bxc6 Black’s two bishops rake across the board; the a5-knight can hop to c4 or b7, while …Bc5 targets f2.
- King safety race: Both kings remain uncastled for several moves; whoever castles first often yields the initiative but gains stability.
Typical Continuations
- 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 (main line) with a rich, double-edged middlegame.
- 7.Be2 cxb5 8.d4 (alternate gambit approach)
Evaluation
Modern theory regards the Suhle Defense as sound; engines give roughly equal chances (≈0.00 to −0.20). The line is less common in elite tournaments because many players prefer the more forcing Fried Liver or Traxler variations, but it remains a popular surprise weapon in rapid and online play.
Model Game
M. Tal – A. Hort, Skopje Olympiad 1972, features the Suhle Defense; despite being a noted attacker, Tal accepted the gambit pawn and ultimately succumbed to Black’s counter-pressure.
Interesting Facts
- The move 6…c6 solves two problems at once: it blocks the bishop’s check and prepares …cxd5 or …bxc6, showcasing classical opening principles—gain time while addressing threats.
- Because the critical positions occur by move seven, the Suhle Defense is a favourite of correspondence players who can dive deep into engine-aided analysis.