Italian Game - Chess Openings

The Italian Game, one of the oldest openings in chess, can be both aggressive and extremely passive. We look at all the variations you need to know to play the Italian game to fit your style of play.

[j.j.d.]

Just found out I've been playing the Italian game for my entire life without knowing it

[dwihadyan]

2:31 THIS IS WHAT JEROME WOULD'VE WANTED

[koenpalstermans]

Nice and compact. Very understandable and not boring. Good job. You touched on a lot of interesting lines in the Italian game without going too far in detail. Thanks. I would like to find a video in that style about the Schliemann defense too.

[jonwill]

Well presented; thank you for posting.

[rajveeruppal]

1:27 u can move the b2 pawn to b4 and turn it into the evens gambit as well

[something]

Kevin: You could se the Jerome gambit.
Me in 2020: What do you mean by could!

[tamirpolyakov]

7:21 you can go into the fries liver attack again as your bishop is defending the g5 square

[arrowonthespot]

7:12 (Not quite 7/11) if you go knight to c3 instead of d4 and he bring bishop to G4 then your in luck... knight takes e5 their bishop takes your queen then your bishop to f7 check and knight to d5 is mate

[ttfno]

At 10:10 white bishop can take the night because of Nf7+ and winning the queen, if the queen takes g2 then capture the rook, black soes the same, check move the king and you are up in pieces

[hihunter]

Love the Evan's so I play the Italian a lot. Gotta learn about the openings you play if you wish to succeed with them

[mayateola]

I love the content, but would suggest since the videos are educational, it would be great to slow down the pace of narration.

[dlucey]

The Italian game opening is quite fun because it’s fast paced and aggressive. Until you castle, F7 is a real weak spot for black you can manipulate.

If you don’t see it coming you can use the Italian opening to win in 4 moves using queen and Bishop.

[nunyaa]

Hey Kevin, do you ever stream yourself playing something like blitz chess? I think that would be entertaining, and you could post some highlight games to youtube as well!

[tellahsage]

In that position at 6:11 White shouldn't take the pawn with the knight, Qd5 threatening mate on f7 wins a piece.

[steelmongoose]

Late to the party, but I just started picking up chess. Very nice introduction to the system.

[libelldrian]

The c3 gambit only works if they recapture. Na5 is a strong response.

[litelus]

you should put links in the description to the videos of the gambits you mention

[travisloewen]

At 10:00, couldn't you take the F7 pawn with the knight to fork the Rook and Queen? Even if the Queen attacks, that Rook is stuck.

I shouldn't sound so critical, this is a very well-made video. I always shoot for the Fried Liver but didn't realize that's a branch off of the Italian. Now I know!

[thedoubledeagle]

I know gambits can be used to give a lead in development but how exactly does it let that happen?

[sandrate]

10:05 why not take with knight so you can eat the rook after they move the queen. Or is it to slow and you lose the board?