Semi-Italian Opening

Semi-Italian Opening
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c6 black knight
d6 black pawn
e5 black pawn
c4 white bishop
e4 white pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6
ECOC50
OriginRodzinski vs. Alekhine, Paris 1913
Named afterItalian Opening (Giuoco Piano)
ParentItalian Game
Synonym(s)

The Semi-Italian Opening (also known as Half Giuoco Piano, Lesser Giuoco Piano, and Paris Defence) is one of Black's responses to the Italian Game.[6][7] It begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 d6

Black's intent is to play a Hungarian Defense with an early ...Bg4, fighting for control of the d4-square.[6][8] The line was tried by Alexander Alekhine early in his career.[8][9] The first recorded use in international competition was in 1846.[citation needed] I. A. Horowitz called the defence "solid", also writing: "It does not seem quite sufficient for equality."[9]

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code for the Semi-Italian is C50.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
  1. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 165. Half Giuoco Piano.
  2. ^ a b Horowitz (1964), p. 39
  3. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 223. Lesser Giuoco Piano.
  4. ^ Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 290. Paris Defence.
  5. ^ Kasparov & Keene (1982), p. 309.
  6. ^ a b Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 365. Semi-Italian Opening.
  7. ^ Kasparov & Keene (1982), pp. 308, 309.
  8. ^ a b Harding & Botterill (1977), pp. 129–30.
  9. ^ a b Horowitz (1964), pp. 39–41.