Semi-Italian Opening
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO | C50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Rodzinski vs. Alekhine, Paris 1913 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Italian Opening (Giuoco Piano) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Italian 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. It begins with the moves:
Black's intent is to play a Hungarian Defense with an early ...Bg4, fighting for control of the d4-square. The line was tried by Alexander Alekhine early in his career. The first recorded use in international competition was in 1846. I. A. Horowitz called the defence "solid", also writing: "It does not seem quite sufficient for equality."
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings code for the Semi-Italian is C50.