Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3

ECO C50

The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo is a chess opening line in the Italian Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3.

It is catalogued under code C50 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move d3 is chosen by White on move 4.

5 named continuations branch from this position, including the Canal Variation and the Dubois Variation.

Named variations

• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Canal Variation — ECO C50
• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Dubois Variation — ECO C50
• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation — ECO C50
• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Lucchini Gambit — ECO C50
• Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal — ECO C50

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.