3...Nf6 is not worse than 3...d5, the position is equal after both moves.
I think black has less trouble reaching equality in the Ponziani than in other e4 e5 openings.
The Ponziani Opening
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Looks like your username choice has you kind of stuck...
Andy Clifton, yeah I might have to change that. And uhohspaghettio, what do you mean? After Nf6, d4, then black takes either e4 or d4. Then i push up the pawn that wasn't taken, and gain very good position. If they play d5, black takes a very strong stab at the center.
I think "Fried Liver Attack" is what threw us off there...
Guys, I just want an answer if you think this opening is good or not. I was comparing it to the reason I left the Italian Game (more specifically the Fried Liver Attack), because the nf6 line in the Ponziani is very good for white, while the d5 line is very good for black. Chess Opening explorers in addition to my play with this can back that up. Do you think this is a worthwhile opening to learn or should I learn something else?
Sure, why not? Go for it.
Yes, I realize that d5 is less popular... My problem is that on chess 365 (masters and nonmasters), and on chessgame's explorer, d5 leads to black having a higher win percentage than white. I've been messing around with this for a few weeks, and I too have a hard time playing against d5, while I do good against nf6.
Btw, why don't you chill the hell out, I am just trying to ask about an opening. I don't even know who pfren is, but according to his account he is an IM and probably more knowledgeable than you are.
Just played my first game on here, I used the Ponziani. They played 3...f6. I got a rook for my bishop, then won a bishop and mated him in the endgame with a rook. f6 is an odd reply, but I just pushed the d4 pawn as the original intentions of the opening were.
Who cares what a computer thinks about the 3rd move?
The_Ponziani_Opening wrote:
Hi, I was learning The Ponziani Opening, and I was wondering what all of you thought of it. It seems to me, that I will be in a similar situation as I was with the fried liver attack. If they play the bad move, 3 ... Nf6 (or Nxd5 in the Fried Liver Attack), then white has a very good position. However, if they play the correct move, 3 ... d5 (or Na5 in the Fried Liver Attack), then black has a very good position. So please just post your opinions about the Ponziani, and tell me what you think. If I don't play this, I am considering the Bishop's Opening. I want to play something fairly aggressive, but sound.
Its a sound beginners opening.
lol...faint praise indeed...
UnratedGamesOnly, what would you consider a beginner?
I have a USCF Rating of about 1250, and I have only played one game on here, but I beat a 1100.
That's the dictionary definition - since chess.com starts you out with an assumed rating of 1200 by default, anyone who is an 1100 is even worse than that and has lost enough games to prove it.
3. ...f6 is thoroughly beside the point since 3. c3 wasn't threatening the pawn on e5, and all it does is weaken the c4-g8 diagonal. As to 3. ...Nf6, that's been book for many years (it's in my 1970s copy of MCO) and is said to avoid the sharp play that follows after 3. ...d5. Either way, the Ponziani's been out of fashion at the highest level for a mighty long time, but at our level it's no worse than anything else and it will come down to whichever player makes the best of the resulting position. OTOH you could say that about 1. a3 
The_Ponziani_Opening wrote:
UnratedGamesOnly, what would you consider a beginner?
I have a USCF Rating of about 1250, and I have only played one game on here, but I beat a 1100.
1250 USCF is a E player. Thats basically a beginner.
I don't know about that...there are people who bear 100 ratings.
Mar 19, 2012
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#18
The_Ponziani_Opening wrote:
UnratedGamesOnly, what would you consider a beginner?
I have a USCF Rating of about 1250, and I have only played one game on here, but I beat a 1100.
uh-oh another estimator here.
I'm sorry KCO, my USCF is 1227. Considering my rating has jumped by 70 points in 2/3 of my last tournaments, i rounded it up a bit. And I am a member of USCF...
Mar 19, 2012
0
#20
Getting back to the original point here, the Ponziani is one of many openings that is probably a lot more effective OTB (if you know something about it) than in CC where people can look up good lines to use against it. And as far as the Game Explorer here and/or any other DB showing an early move such as 3...d5 being "better for black" I suggest you keep on going thru the DB here and you'll see that - voila - 4.Qa4 is better for White. This is not uncommon in fact it's very common when the DB is dealing with hundreds of games played with a certain move.
But if you want to treat DB percentages as gospel I guarantee you will be unpleasantly surprised over and over again (like I have) until you either "get it" or else remain content being a Class-C or D-player the rest of your chess career.
Hi, I was learning The Ponziani Opening, and I was wondering what all of you thought of it. It seems to me, that I will be in a similar situation as I was with the fried liver attack. If they play the bad move, 3 ... Nf6 (or Nxd5 in the Fried Liver Attack), then white has a very good position. However, if they play the correct move, 3 ... d5 (or Na5 in the Fried Liver Attack), then black has a very good position. So please just post your opinions about the Ponziani, and tell me what you think. If I don't play this, I am considering the Bishop's Opening. I want to play something fairly aggressive, but sound.