Italian Game and Hungarian Defence

Italian Game

Definition

The Italian Game is one of the oldest known chess openings, beginning with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. By developing White’s king’s bishop to the a2–g8 diagonal at the earliest opportunity, the opening aims for rapid piece activity, direct pressure on the f7-square, and early central confrontation. In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) it is catalogued under codes C50–C54.

Typical Move-Order

After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4:

• 3…Bc5 – the Giuoco Piano (“quiet game”).
• 3…Nf6 – leads to the Two Knights Defense.
• 3…d6 or 3…Be7 – transposes to the Hungarian Defence.
• 4. b4!? – the romantic Evans Gambit.

Strategic Themes

• Control of the center: Early e4 and d2–d4 breaks (often prepared by c2–c3) challenge Black’s e-pawn and open lines for the pieces.
• Pressure on f7: White’s bishop on c4 and knight on g5 (in some lines) combine to attack the weakest point in Black’s initial position.
• Pawn structure: The resulting structures can be open (after d4) or semi-closed (in the “Giuoco Pianissimo”), giving both tactical and strategic possibilities.
• Piece play over pawns: Early development and harmony are more important than immediate material gains.

Historical Significance

The Italian Game dates back to the 16th-century manuscripts of Greco, Polerio, and Gioacchino-Greco, long before the modern rules of castling and en-passant were settled. Its enduring relevance is underscored by frequent appearances in contemporary elite play—Carlsen–Anand, World Championship 2014, and countless rapid & blitz encounters—where top grandmasters employ the “Giuoco Pianissimo” to sidestep the heavily analyzed Spanish (Ruy Lopez).

Illustrative Lines

Example 1: Main-line Giuoco Piano

The diagram (derivable from the PGN) shows a typical position where both sides have rapid development; White sacrifices a pawn to seize the initiative on the kingside and in the center.

Example 2: Evans Gambit (4.b4)

Invented by the Welsh sea-captain William Evans (1827), this gambit epitomizes the romantic era’s preference for open lines and sacrificial attacks.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• In Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997 (Game 2), Kasparov used an Italian-Game move-order to bamboozle the computer’s opening book, securing a memorable win.
• The term Giuoco Pianissimo (“very quiet game”) is a musical pun, contrasting with the volatile positions that can actually arise after White’s d2–d4 break.
• The Italian Game was so dominant in the 18th century that the phrase “playing the game of Italy” simply meant “playing chess.”

Hungarian Defence

Definition

The Hungarian Defence is a solid but somewhat passive response to the Italian Game, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7. By blocking the c1–h6 diagonal with the bishop, Black neutralizes immediate pressure on f7 and avoids the sharp lines of the Two Knights Defence. The ECO codes are C50–C55.

Origin of the Name

Although early references can be traced to the late 18th century, the line gained prominence thanks to Hungarian masters József Szén and Johann Horváth, who championed it in the mid-1800s—hence the name.

Strategic Ideas

• Flexibility over activity: Black keeps the position compact, planning …Nf6, …d6, and possibly …Be6 or …Bg4 only after securing the center.
• King safety: Castling short comes quickly without conceding weaknesses; the bishop on e7 shields f7.
• Potential drawbacks: The defence cedes the initiative; White often obtains easy space with c3 & d4 or simply Re1, h3, and a slow build-up.

Main Continuations

1. 4. d4 – The most principled test. After 4…exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O, White enjoys a mild lead in development.
2. 4. c3 – Prepares d2–d4 in one go and resembles the Giuoco Pianissimo setup.
3. 4. O-O – A quiet line that keeps options open, e.g. 4…Nf6 5.d4.

Example Game

Alekhine – Vidmar, Karlsbad 1911

Alekhine exploited the modest placement of Black’s pieces, seizing space in the center and on the kingside. Vidmar eventually succumbed to mounting pressure on the dark squares.

Historical & Modern Usage

The Hungarian Defence was common in 19th-century coffee-house play, where its solidity appealed to defensive specialists. In modern grandmaster chess it is rarer but still appears as a surprise weapon—Boris Gelfand vs. Vishy Anand, Tal Memorial 2011, for instance, ended in a fighting draw after Gelfand chose 3…Be7.

Interesting Tidbits

• In The Immortal Game (Anderssen – Kieseritzky, 1851) the Hungarian Defence was almost played; Kieseritzky selected the more adventurous 3…Bc5 instead, leading to one of the most celebrated sacrifices in chess history.
• Because theory is relatively light, club players who dislike memorization often adopt the Hungarian Defence as a low-maintenance counterpart to the Ruy Lopez.
• The line occasionally transposes to the Pirc/Philidor structures if Black later plays …d6 and …Nf6 with …g6.