The Italian GameThe classical opening, and the ideas behind each move.Chess1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 — the oldest recorded opening still in regular play.11.e4 e5Both stake a claim in the centre.22.Nf3Develops and attacks e5. A threat and a developing move at once.32...Nc6Defends the pawn and develops.43.Bc4The bishop eyes f7 — the weakest square in Black's position.53...Bc5 or Nf6Giuoco Piano, or the sharper Two Knights Defence.KEY IDEASPressure on f7c3 and d4 to build a big centreCastle earlyAvoid the premature Ng5 attackThe Fried Liver — 4.Ng5 against the Two Knights — is dangerous butunsound with best defence. Know it from both sides.The Italian Gamelearnposters.com
The Italian Game — printable games wall chart from LearnPosters. Free vector PDF, US Letter and A4.

The Italian Game, step by step

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 — the oldest recorded opening still in regular play.

  1. 1.e4 e5Both stake a claim in the centre.
  2. 2.Nf3Develops and attacks e5. A threat and a developing move at once.
  3. 2...Nc6Defends the pawn and develops.
  4. 3.Bc4The bishop eyes f7 — the weakest square in Black's position.
  5. 3...Bc5 or Nf6Giuoco Piano, or the sharper Two Knights Defence.

Key ideas

  • Pressure on f7
  • c3 and d4 to build a big centre
  • Castle early
  • Avoid the premature Ng5 attack

The Fried Liver — 4.Ng5 against the Two Knights — is dangerous but unsound with best defence. Know it from both sides.

Questions about the The Italian Game poster

What’s on the The Italian Game poster?
5 numbered steps, with a full worked run-through. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 — the oldest recorded opening still in regular play. 1.e4 e5 — Both stake a claim in the centre.; 2.Nf3 — Develops and attacks e5. A threat and a developing move at once.; 2...Nc6 — Defends the pawn and develops.; 3.Bc4 — The bishop eyes f7 — the weakest square in Black's position.; 3...Bc5 or Nf6 — Giuoco Piano, or the sharper Two Knights Defence.. The Fried Liver — 4.Ng5 against the Two Knights — is dangerous but unsound with best defence. Know it from both sides.
Who is the The Italian Game poster for?
The Italian Game belongs to the Chess section rather than to a school year, because games is not something one grade owns. Anyone learning openings can pin it up — a beginner, a student mid-course, or someone revising years later.
When should you use the The Italian Game poster?
Every move develops a piece toward the centre. It is the opening principles in one line. A wall chart earns its place by being glanceable from where the work is happening, so The Italian Game belongs on the wall where that games work actually happens, within glancing distance, rather than filed away.
What other posters go with The Italian Game?
Avoiding Theory, The Caro-Kann and When to Castle sit alongside The Italian Game in the Chess section. Printed together they make a wall rather than a single sheet, which is how a reference set actually gets used.Avoiding TheoryThe Caro-KannWhen to Castle
Is the The Italian Game poster free to download and print?
Yes. The Italian Game downloads as a free PDF with no account, no email and no watermark, like everything else in the Chess section. Print as many copies as you like for a home, a classroom, a library or a tutoring group; reselling the file is the only thing the licence rules out.Read the licence
What size does the The Italian Game poster print at?
The Italian Game is a vector PDF laid out for US Letter, and prints on A4 with Fit to page — the same file, no separate download. Because every mark on it is drawn rather than photographed, it stays sharp enlarged to A3, A2 or A1 at a copy shop. Colour carries emphasis only, so a greyscale print of The Italian Game loses nothing.Printing guide

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