Italian Game: Two Knights Defense
Black counterattacks the e-pawn with a knight rather than immediately copying White's bishop move. White must weigh an attack on f7 against Black's threats in the center.
Your plan as White
Develop the bishop to c4, coordinate against the center, and prepare d4 with c3 or support the center with d3.
The opponent’s plan
Develop while keeping e5 and f7 secure. Compare ...Bc5 with ...Nf6; a threat against f7 can require a concrete central reply.
Watch out: Attacking f7 without checking Black's central counterplay can lose material. Complete development before a speculative sacrifice.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
Sign in to practiceComplete all 6 practices across both colors for one lesson completion. Replaying a completed lesson earns no additional leaderboard completion.
Name, background and sources
Italian writers studied this opening in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Damiano, Polerio and Greco contributed to its early literature.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.