411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. d4
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Italian Gambit 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
Italian Gambit
4.d4
White sacrifices the d-pawn in order to open lines for their pieces and develop faster. The gambit is considered unsound but it's not bad. Black has 3 ways to capture the pawn:
4…exd4 transposes into Haxo Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5).
4…Nxd4 is playable but allows White to play 5. Nxe5 with pressure on f7, or the venomous 5. b4. But, if Black knows what's he doing, this move is surprisingly strong.
4…Bxd4 is the calmest line and probably the strongest one. Play tends to continue 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. Be3 Nc6.
Theory table
.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4
4
5
6
d4Bxd4
Nxd4Nxd4
O-Od6
=
Scotch Gambit
...exd4
=
References
Italian Gambit