Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. d3

Giuoco Pianissimo rd bd qd kd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd bd pd bl pl pl nl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl rl Giuoco Pianissimo With 4.d3, White plays the Giuoco Pianissimo (Italian: "very quiet game"). White aims for a slow buildup deferring d4 until it can be prepared. By avoiding an immediate confrontation in the center White prevents the early release of tension through exchanges and enters a positional maneuvering game. If White plays c2-c3, the position can take some characteristics of the Ruy Lopez if his bishop retreats to c2 via Bc4-b3-c2. (The alternative move order 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 is common in master play.) Despite its drawish reputation, this variation became more popular after being taken up by Anatoly Karpov in the 1978 World Championship. Black may also play the rare /4...f5/ to gambit a pawn and create a more combative game. Theory table 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 ...d6 O-ONf6 Nc3h6 h3O-O a3a6 b4Ba7 -/+1 2 ...... c3Nf6 Bb3O-O h3Be6 Nbd2a6 Qe2Ba7 g4Nd7 Bc2d5 -/+ 2 ...... ...... O-OO-O Bb3a6 Nbd2 = 3 ...Nf6 Bg5h6 Bh4d6 Nbd2a6 a4g5 Bg3Nh5 c3Qf6 Qe2Nf4 = 4 ...... Bb3d6 c3a6 O-OBa7 Nbd2O-O h3Be6 Bc2h6 Re1Ne7 -/+ Notes 1: Good chances for Black References