A Response to the Italian Game

 Hi. Usually I never play the Italian game, but if I do, what is my best response to 3...Bc5? I like to play the Max Lange Attack, but I must be aware of other good responses. I also made a blog based on the Max Lange Attack.

What is the best response to this? (I'm a very aggressive player.)

 (a) Evans Gambit 

(b) Giuoco Piano     

(c) Max Lange Attack  

I like the evans gambit. Though the Giuoco Piano is quite good too.

Nh6 is the best response in my opinion.

Evans Gambit is one of the most respected gambits in chess. It's still a bit dubious but you do have a strong intiative as compensation and can score a lot of wins.

To be honest, this is probably the best option for an aggressive player. Giuoco Pianissimo is far more solid but it's quite quiet.

b is not the Giuoco Piano. It's Greco's Attack.

There is a crazy theoretical line here called the Möller-Therkatz Attack.

There is also an improved way of playing Greco's Attack but it's not the true Greco's Attack.

I think I am gonna try these soon. I do like Italian but even a baboon manages to hold his own quite well in main lines. Whether that tells me I am simply bad or not 😆

Really spicy lines though. Much appreciated.

I'm a huge fan of the Evans, and I am pretty negative about the Guccio Piano. I just think it's dry and black can easily equalise and get a decent game. 

Greco's Attack is analysed to be a bit better for black but it's difficult to prove and there are a lot of ways white can seize the initiative.

For example, if black plays Nxc3 instead of Bxc3.

White builds up a lot of pressure along the diagonals. The sacrificed rook doesn't matter at all.

Also Bd2 is maybe technically a better move, but Nc3 gets more crazy and aggressive. Nc3 is the move in Greco's analysis, I believe.

I say one thing and somehow a 12 year old thread is revived.