Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4

ECO C42

The Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation is a chess opening line in the Petrov's Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4.

It is catalogued under code C42 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bc4 is chosen by White on move 3.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Petroff 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.