Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6 6.O-O d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1

ECO C53

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 5.d4 Bb6 6.O-O d6 7.a4 a6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Re1.

It is catalogued under code C53 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Re1 is chosen by White on move 9.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Italian course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.