Introduction to The Italian Game, Evans Gambit & Two Knights Defense
Introduction to The Italian Game
For any chess player I recommend to consider the Italian Game as White. It is regarded as one of the best chess openings, one which can be played from beginner to the very highest levels. It's an opening you can grow with and play for the rest of your chess career. It's a flexible opening which can be played in a positional, maneuvering fashion, or it can be steered into a more tactical style of play, including several gambit variants, as the players choose.
What is the Italian Game?
In the past, the appellation 'Giuoco Piano' was used as a catch-all term to describe a complex (i.e., a collection) of opening variations which begin: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5. In recent times, in recognition of the confusion that this entailed when discussing the variations (e.g., are the Evans Gambit and the Giuoco Pianissimo variations of the Giuoco Piano, or are they distinct openings?) the complex of related openings is now referred to as 'Italian Game', with each of its constituents being appropriately acknowledged as distinct openings (as opposed to being variations of the Giuoco Piano).
Italian Game is now taken to consist of any opening beginning with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 (note the omission of 3...Bc5). This article will be primarily concerned with the four most popular openings of the Italian Game complex which are: The Giuoco Piano (quiet game), Giuoco Pianissimo (quietest game), the Two Knights Defense, and the Evans Gambit. For convenience we will also sometimes use the term "variant" when describing these, with the understanding that they are in fact distinct openings.
For a well-presented, instructive introduction to the Italian Game, I recommend the video series by Alex Astaneh on ChessFactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w9-KWUL7k4&list=PL9RQPxG_e-LlwrRs1AbpHiQ4sAdERLfIf
The following provides a concise, introductory overview of the Italian Game, including most of its variants...
Ultimate Guide to Winning with the Italian Game - 365chess.com
https://www.365chess.com/view/italian-game/
*******************************
We begin now with the *legendary* Evans Gambit which is considered to be one of the most aggressive of the Italian Game openings due to the bold attack it begins with. It was very popular for a time in the 19th century, when it was considered almost unbeatable in the hands of an expert player. As alluded, White's attack is initiated by the gambit of a pawn on the 4th move (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4) which often ends up producing a dynamic and (IMO) exciting game - especially for a well-prepared player of the White pieces!
GM Hikaru Nakumura says Evans Gambit is *Legendary*.....(@39:25 of video)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9CwH47r6og
The Evans Gambit continues to be a sound opening at all levels. Here several notable Evans Gambit games played by World Chess Champions and a game between the world's strongest chess engines...
The Greatest Evans Gambit Player (Paul Morphy) - SammyChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3vIRzfi5pg
Evans Gambit by Paul Morphy Himself - agadmator's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWxZJK6KEp4
Bobby Fischer's Amazing 17 moves Victory in the Evans Gambit - agadmator's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYu_maf9oNY&ab_channel=agadmator%27sChessChannel
Kasparov vs Anand EVANS GAMBIT - agadmator's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCAY5SxWwo
Magnus Carlsen plays RIDICULOUS EVANS GAMBIT to DESTROY GM in Blitz - Chess Press...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0NngGn_mQA
AlphaZero vs StockFish - contesting the Evans Gambit - agadmator's Chess Channel.....The world's strongest chess engines contest the Evans Gambit...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEylXLEJ-Eg&ab_channel=agadmator%27sChessChannel
Evans Gambit Fundamentals...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evans_Gambit
https://simplifychess.com/evans-gambit/index.html
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-evans-gambit-a-history
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-evans-gambit-modern-play
https://chesslessons.wordpress.com/category/evans-gambit/
Evans Gambit Accepted & Declined - IanChessGambits...
https://www.ianchessgambits.com/evans-gambit-accepted.html
https://www.ianchessgambits.com/evans-gambit-declined.html
The BEST OPENING for Under-1600 players [Evans Gambit] - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BtExQvYc5g&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
The Ultimate Chess Opening: The Evans Gambit - agadmator's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=evans+gambit+agadmator
The Evans Gambit - Chess Pathways...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmhbvift8mQ&ab_channel=ChessPathways
Quick Overview of Evans Gambit and Nakhmanson Gambit - GothamChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG52OQytDxc
Introduction to Evans Gambit - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgTB1fcxNns
Top Mistakes In The Evans Gambit (3 Parts)- Chess Vibes....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ywsXSgAeA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZt0JD5LB2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAlsOYgAQzA
Notable Evans Gambit Games...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1042901
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0NngGn_mQA
Evans Gambit Courses on Chessable (at least one is free)...
https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/evans
Chess Opening With The HIGHEST Win Rate After 1.e4 [Deutz Gambit] - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeHPa6g9zX4&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
Italian Game | Deutz Gambit [including the Rosentreter Gambit] | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-u5leFcSis&ab_channel=Chessfactor
Trick 1...e5 players with the DEUTZ GAMBIT - Alex Astaneh...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_spruzp7tw&ab_channel=AlexAstaneh
The Deutz Gambit | Italian Game Theory - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_5JQtx-_XA
The Rousseau Gambit | Risky Opening Choice for Black in the Italian Game | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3dsGcJeaQ&ab_channel=Chessfactor
The TRICKIEST Chess Opening Ever! [Top 3 Traps] [Rousseau Gambit for Black] - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq1K0lIl4SE&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
*******************************
We now move on to the other three members of the Italian Game complex which are by far the most played, and the focus of the remainder of this article...
Giuoco Piano - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 (the "Classical" Giuoco Piano)
Giuoco Pianissimo - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 (d3) Nf6 5.d3 (c3) - the point being that in contrast to the Giuoco Piano, where the d-pawn is developed d2-d4, in the "pianissimo" the d-pawn (if developed at all) is played initially to d3 instead of to d4 and the order that c3 and d3 are played may be reversed; finally, in either case White may or may not follow up with the break move d3-d4.
Two Knights Defense - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6
These are the "Tabiya" or standard positions (and typical move orders) associated with each of the three openings. Strictly speaking, the tabiya refers to the chess position at the end of the move sequence given, not necessarily to the order in which the moves are actually played. For example, in the Giuoco Pianissimo the player may choose to reverse the sequence of the c3/d3 move order (i.e., to d3/c3).
Giuoco Piano vs Pianissimo
Suffice it to say that current theory dictates that if White plays 4.c3 followed shortly by d4 the variation is "piano". Otherwise, if an early d3 is played, then it is "pianissimo". Put more succinctly, "piano"= c3/d4; "pianissimo" = an early c3, typically on the 4th move (with or without an early d3). In the "pianissimo" White may or may not follow up later with the central pawn break d3-d4, depending on the circumstances. The Two Knights Defense begins as given above.
Italian Game Wiki's
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Game
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuoco_Piano
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense
Note in the Wiki article above on the Giuoco Piano, that the Giuoco Pianissimo, Evans Gambit and Two Knights Defense, etc. are listed as "variations" of the Giuoco Piano, which is at odds with the modern understanding that they are now considered to be distinct openings of the Italian Game, just as the Giuoco Piano itself is. (Old habits die hard!)
Overviews of the Italian Game - the primary variations, and their themes and plans...
The Giuoco Piano - Jim's Chess Channel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gX4to7ly1Y
In his opening remarks to the video above Jim regurgitates the long-held belief that the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game) is stronger than the Giuoco Piano. In recent times (beginning in the late 20th century) this notion has been challenged by the emergence of the so-called "Modern Italian" variant of the Italian Game (discussed elsewhere, particularly below, in this article) which is now considered by many of its GM practitioners to be no less strong than the Ruy Lopez/Spanish Game, while avoiding some of Black's more troublesome (to White) lines such as the Berlin Wall Defense of the Ruy/Spanish.
The Italian Game - Chess Pathways...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPRtGy2-Ms
Introduction to the Chess Openings: The Italian Game - Chess Strategy Online...
The Italian Game - Simplify Chess...
https://simplifychess.com/italian-game/
Introduction to the Italian Game - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP4qtaUAhWM&list=PLssNbVBYrGcDtaEsaYMUyiAmK64nd4A5H
Hidden line in the Italian Game | Crushing Chess Opening for White - Remote Chess Academy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwFB4NzekU&ab_channel=RemoteChessAcademy
Introduction to the Giuoco Piano - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x5Y62g4UhI
Italian Game - A Beginner's Repertoire (games collection)...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1007372
Giuoco Piano Games...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1004423
Giuoco Pianissimo Games...
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chesscollection?cid=1041401
Magnus Carlsen's Incredible Italian Game (Giuoco Pianissimo) - SammyChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6zXhn-I3p4
*******************************
The Two Knights Defense.....and some of its most popular variations.....Caution! This can be one of the most tactically complicated and exciting openings in chess - for both players!...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense
https://simplifychess.com/italian-game/index.html#two-knights-defense
https://www.ianchessgambits.com/two-knights-defence.html
Two Knight's Defense - The Knight Attack (4.Ng5!) - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoZkrBWDbU
Fried Liver Attack | Attacking Gambit in the Italian - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbmb5ZBG4DM&list=PL9RQPxG_e-LlwrRs1AbpHiQ4sAdERLfIf&index=28&ab_channel=Chessfactor
Intro to the Fried Liver Attack - SimplifyChess.com...
https://simplifychess.com/fried-liver-attack/index.html
Fried Liver Attack (6 parts) - Boris Alterman Chess Lessons...
https://chesslessons.wordpress.com/?s=liver
WIN IN 8 MOVES | The Fried Liver Attack - GothamChess...
++ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLFSufXxtuI
The Fried Liver Attack! Winning By Force? - Sam Copeland...
https://www.chess.com/blog/SamCopeland/the-fried-liver-attack-winning-by-force
Fried Liver Attack | Italian Game Theory - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxTPwHQ1Rv8
Top 10 Fried Liver Attack Games - SammyChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL0zgsbwOWg
The Lolli Attack | A dangerous Weapon for White in the Italian | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOC1gSC2Cnw&list=PL9RQPxG_e-LlwrRs1AbpHiQ4sAdERLfIf&index=9&ab_channel=Chessfactor
Lolli Attack: Giving the Italian Game a Boost - Chessable blog...
https://www.chessable.com/blog/lolli-attack/
The Lolli Attack - Chess Pathways...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X03UR-Jwzw&ab_channel=ChessPathways
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Lolli Attack! - The Chess Giant...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVD1wE6zf_c&ab_channel=TheChessGiant
Tactics in the Lolli Attack - GameKnot...
WIN IN 7 MOVES | Traxler Counter-Attack - GothamChess...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1jkj-HPLdw
Traxler Counterattack - Hanging Pawns...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaC6JvbFiA0
Two Knights Defense: Max Lange Attack - Wikipedia...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Knights_Defense,_Max_Lange_Attack
Two knights, Max Lange attack - 365Chess.com... https://www.365chess.com/eco/C55_two_knights_Max_Lange_attack
Max Lange Attack: Complete Guide - TheChessWorld...
https://thechessworld.com/articles/openings/max-lange-attack-complete-guide/
WIN with the Max Lange Attack - Alex Astaneh...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANMtfrKRQsY&ab_channel=AlexAstaneh
Italian Game | Queen Trap in the Max Lange Attack | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDdn5sP2WFc&ab_channel=Chessfactor
Learn the Max Lange with 5...Bc5 in 5 easy steps - GingerGM (GM Simon Williams)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHbAcaUQzKU
Spicy Openings: The Max Lange Attack - GM Simon Williams (aka GingerGM)...
https://www.chess.com/lessons/spicy-openings-the-max-lange-attack
Max Lange Attack Studies - lichess.org...
https://lichess.org/study/topic/Max%20Lange%20Attack/hot
Italian Game Courses Available on Chessable.....(several are free)...
https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/italian
https://www.chessable.com/two-knights-defense/course/18646/
https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/evans
https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/fried
*******************************
The "Modern" Italian
The Giuoco Pianissimo has, beginning in the late 20th century, undergone a thorough re-examination, evolution, and update, with the inevitable result that it has been dubbed the "Modern Italian" variant of the Italian Game. In fact, the Modern Italian has recently gained in stature as the preferred Italian Game variant of players at the very highest levels, due primarily to the more flexible move order possibilities it allows. This is a consequence of the fact that unlike other iconic openings (e.g., Ruy Lopez, Sicilian Defense, Queen's Gambit, etc.) the theory of the Modern Italian is relatively undeveloped, as it has only recently evolved as a distinct opening in its present (Modern) form.
As a consequence of its relative "immaturity", the Modern Italian comprises less documented "theory" to learn than these other revered openings. However, even though elite players have been employing and experimenting with the so-called "Modern" move orders since the 1980's, chess books covering the Italian game have for the most part been slow to include or feature any substantive treatment of Modern Italian theory - that is, with the exception of four relatively recent (i.e., in the 21st century) books treating the Modern variant by John Emms (2010), Muller & Souleidis (2016), Martyn Kravtsiv (2020), Kalinin & Kalinichenko (2021) which are all commented on later in this article (in the 'Books' section). For the improving chess amateur, if the Modern Italian is of particular interest, I recommend starting with Emms' book, as he goes to lengths to thoroughly explain the rational behind the moves. The other three books, while more terse than Emms in their verbal explanations, provide excellent coverage of the opening and are highly recommended as follow-on's to Emms and/or as references, particularly so for those who choose to make the Modern Italian game their main opening as White.
It is noteworthy that, as a result of this 'modernization' of the game, the Giuoco Piano (i.e., with its immediate d2-d4) has effectively been rendered passe and is rarely seen at the highest levels today. Thus the 'tabiya' (see definition earlier in this article) of the Modern Italian opening (or Giuoco Pianissimo) is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 (c3) Nf6 5.c3 (d3) However, it is only after White's first five moves (the tabiya) that the opening assumes a so-called 'Modern' style of play. This is because the older, traditional Pianissimo variations have essentially become marginalized in favor of the more flexible opening play that now characterizes the Modern variant.
The following well-presented video does the best job I have encountered of explaining how the Giuoco Pianissimo has evolved into the Modern Italian opening and why it is one of the preferred openings for White at the highest levels of chess...
Italian Game | The Giuoco Pianissimo | IM Alex Astaneh - Chessfactor...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2oa73y5PU&ab_channel=Chessfactor
*******************************
Books on Italian Game
My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White by Vincent Moret...
This is an excellent introductory book by Moret, suitable for all improving amateurs (especially those at the beginner-novice level), providing an opening repertoire for White against Black's major responses to 1.e4, featuring in particular the Classical Giuoco Piano (4.c3 / 5.d4) against 1... e5. Also notable is the exceptionally instructive chapter on the Grand Prix Attack against the Sicilian Defense - the best I've come across!
https://www.google.com/books/edition/My_First_Chess_Opening_Repertoire_for_Wh/cdUlDAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=my+first+chess+opening+repertoire+for+black&printsec=frontcover
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9033.pdf
The book is also available as a course on Chessable...
https://www.chessable.com/chess-openings/s/vincent%20moret
see my review of Moret's book here (as 'RLBell')...
https://www.amazon.com/First-Chess-Opening-Repertoire-White/dp/9056916335/ref=sr_1_1?crid=191UKKTQGTX28&dchild=1&keywords=my+first+chess+opening+repertoire+for+white&qid=1611043909&s=books&sprefix=my+first+chess+open%2Cstripbooks%2C214&sr=1-1
Beating 1 e4 e5 by John Emms...
An opening repertoire for White in the Italian Game, featuring the 'Modern' Italian (see above). As I mentioned earlier, "For the improving chess amateur, if the Modern Italian is of particular interest, I recommend starting with Emms' book, as he goes to lengths to thoroughly explain the rational behind the moves." The repertoire focuses primarily on the so-called "Modern" 4.c3 / 5.d3 variation of the Italian Game (whereas Vincent Moret’s choice against 1.e4 e5 is based primarily on the Classical (i.e., older) and initially more aggressive Giuoco Piano pawn placement, 4.c3 / 5.d4). Emms also includes a chapter on what he calls the "Classical" variation of the Italian Game featuring (typically) the 4.c3 / 5.d3 pawn duo followed later (after sufficient preparation) by the central d3-d4 pawn break. As a "bonus" the book also covers entering the Italian Game via the Bishop's Opening (1.e4 / 2.Bc4) move order which allows White to avoid some of Black's challenging or annoying sidelines following 2.Nf3 (for instance the Petroff Defense). Also included is a chapter on the Italian Game - Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Bb3).
https://www.amazon.com/Beating-1e4-e5-repertoire-White-ebook/dp/B005EHQHUQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=beating+1+e4+e5&qid=1610807680&s=books&sr=1-1
Winning With The Slow But Venomous Italian by Muller & Souleidis...
This is an advanced repertoire in the Italian Game, appropriate for play up to the highest levels, and recommended as a reference, supplement or follow-on to the books cited ealier. Similar to Emms' book above, the repertoire is focused on the so-called "Modern", 4.c3 /5.d3 Giuoco Pianissimo (i.e., "the Modern Italian') variation of the Italian Game. Read the authors' preface and introduction (book excerpt) below where they comment (pp. 9-10) on why they prefer the Modern Italian over the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening)...
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Winning_with_the_Slow_but_Venomous_Itali/HokfDgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Venomous-Italian-Easy-Grasp/dp/9056916742
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szr8mNLKtPg
The Italian Renaissance II: The Main Lines by Martyn Kravtsiv...
An advanced, comprehensive and up-to-date (2020) treatment of the Modern (4.c3 /5.d3) Italian Game, as well as the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6 4.d3 h6 variation only)...
https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Renaissance-II-Main-Lines/dp/1784830992/ref=sr_1_2?crid=19OF5YP6BQTL3&dchild=1&keywords=martyn+kravtsiv&qid=1622295690&sprefix=martyn+kravtsiv%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-2
The Modernized Italian Game for White by Alexander Kalinin & Nikolai Kalinichenko...
In order to put this mini review of Kalinin & Kalinichenk's (K&K) book into a proper context, I believe that it is only fair to acknowledge that while most chess books have within them the potential to be of value for many readers, that may not necessarily be so for most or all readers. However, occasionally one may have the good fortune to encounter a book that has much better than average value for the majority of those readers who have a particular interest in its subject matter. In my view this book by K&K is such a book. Its comprehensive information content, presentation and overall production values are all exceptional. The instruction is presented in an annotated complete games format. While the book is targeted to the experienced player (and thus not a beginner's book in the traditional sense), it is nevertheless, in my view, an exceptional resource for learning how to play the Modern Italian Game at the very highest level.
So why does it merit such high praise? What exactly does it teach? The answer is that it presents not only the state of the Modern Italian Game (including the Two Knights Defense) as it exists today, both in theory and as practiced by elite players, but also the history of its evolution. All of this (and why, in the authors' view, the so-called Modern Italian has come to be preferred over the Ruy Lopez/Spanish Game by many elite players) is well explained in the book's 'Forward'...
https://thinkerspublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Modernized-Italian-Game.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/Modernized-Italian-Game-White/dp/946420107X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=190OQY5JUN94T&keywords=The+Modernized+Italian+Game+for+White&qid=1684082464&s=books&sprefix=the+modernized+italian+game+for+white%2Cstripbooks%2C137&sr=1-1
The Great Evans Gambit Debate by Michael Rohde...
I highly recommend this as the first and best choice for a book on the Evans Gambit due to the thorough, up-to-date (as of 1997) research Rhode has put into writing it...
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Evans-Gambit-Debate/dp/0938650750/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XL73F717XDPG&dchild=1&keywords=the+great+evans+gambit+debate&qid=1611833924&sprefix=the+great+evans+g%2Cstripbooks%2C206&sr=8-1
For aficionados of the Evans Gambit, the following two books by Tim Harding et. al. are also thoroughly researched, and useful as supplementary references on the Evans Gambit...
Play The Evans Gambit by Tim Harding and Bernard Cafferty...
https://www.amazon.com/Play-Evans-Gambit-Tim-Harding/dp/1857441192/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=1857441192&qid=1611833703&s=books&sr=1-1
Evans Gambit and a System Versus Two Knights Defense by Tim Harding...
https://www.amazon.com/Evans-Gambit-System-Knights-Defense/dp/0875681948/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?dchild=1&keywords=evans+gambit+and+a+system+versus+two+knights%27+defense&qid=1611833331&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr0
Two Knights Defense by Jan Pinski...
Pinski's book is, along with Harding's book (above), one of the few decent books available specifically on the Two Knights Defense...
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Knights-Defence-Jan-Pinski/dp/1857442830/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NJ426LI9G3FM&dchild=1&keywords=the+two+knights+defense&qid=1611832948&s=books&sprefix=the+two+knights%2Caps%2C204&sr=1-1
The Alterman Gambit Guide - White Gambits by Boris Alterman...
A very instructive introductory book by Alterman covering 10 gambits for White, all arising from 1.e4, three of which are variants in the Italian Game - Evans Gambit, Max Lange Attack and Morphy Attack...
https://www.amazon.com/Alterman-Gambit-Guide-White-Gambits/dp/1906552533/ref=sr_1_3?crid=M9KPGOV2AUYI&dchild=1&keywords=the+alterman+gambit+guide&qid=1612328372&sprefix=the+alterman+ga%2Cstripbooks%2C275&sr=8-3
A Startling Chess Opening Repertoire: New Edition by Chris Baker & Graham Burgess...
A complete opening repertoire for White against all of Black's major replies to 1.e4, where the featured opening against 1...e5 is the Italian game, and if Black chooses the Two Knights Defense (3...Nf6) White will answer with the Max Lange Attack (vs 5...Bc5) or Anti-Max Lange Attack (vs 5...Nxe4). If Black instead chooses 3...Bc5 (the Giuoco Piano) then White answers with the Koltanowski Variation (4.0-0)
https://www.amazon.com/Startling-Chess-Opening-Repertoire-New/dp/1911465325/ref=sr_1_2?crid=30840Q87DIT4N&dchild=1&keywords=a+startling+chess+opening+repertoire&qid=1611888155&s=books&sprefix=a+startling+ch%2Cstripbooks%2C213&sr=1-2
The books above will instruct the amateur player (and beyond) in essentially everything they need to know in order to play the Italian Game at a high level.
Each of the following popular books provides a complete opening repertoire for Black in the Open Games - 1.e4 e5 including the Italian Game (and excluding the Ruy Lopez / Spanish Game - where the one exception is noted)...
Play The Open Games As Black by John Emms
Beating The Open Games by Mihail Marin
How To Beat The Open Games by Sverre Johnsen
Bologan's Black Weapons In The Open Games by Victor Bologan
Opening Repertoire: The Open Games with Black by Martin Lokander
the following book includes the Breyer System of the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Game)...
Playing 1.e4 e5 by Nikolaos Ntirlis
*******************************************************************
For more resources related to openings see...
Chess Openings Resources for Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/openings-resources-for-beginners-and-beyond
Good Chess Openings Books For Beginners and Beyond...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell/good-chess-openings-books-for-beginners-and-beyond
*******************************************************************
Discover more helpful chess resources, including book recommendations, in my blog...
https://www.chess.com/blog/RussBell
*******************************************************************
