Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6!?
This is third in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, behind 5...0-0 and especially 5...d6.
6.Bb3!?
This bishop retreat is the main continuation.
6...Ba7!?
And this is the commonest reply.
7.0-0 d6 8.Nbd2 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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The central and kingside pawn-formations are symmetrical, and there is nothing majorly different elsewhere. Stockfish17 and Dragon1 reckon chances are equal.
9.h3 Ne7
The engines prefer the more-popular 9...h6, or 9...Re8.
10.Re1 Ng6 11.Nf1 Be6 12.Ng3
White cannot win a pawn with 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Qb3 Qd7 14.Qxb7?? as 14...Rfb8 wins the queen since 15.Qxa6 fails to 15...Bxf2+ etc.
12...Qd7
The engines suggest 12...h6 or 12...c5!?
13.d4 c6?!
This sets a trap, but probably better is 13...Bxb3 and 14...h6.
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| How should White proceed? |
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14.Bg5
This is the engines' top choice, but note that 14.d5?! cxd5 15.exd5 can be met by 15...Bxh3!? 16.gxh3 Qxh3 with a strong attack, not least thanks to the white queen's knight hanging. Best play, according to the engines, continues something like 17.Re3!? e4!? 18.Nh2!? Qh4!? 19.Nf5!? Qg5+ 20.Ng3 Rae8 21.Kh1 Qh4!? 22.Nf5 Qxf2, when Black seems to have more than enough for a bishop, but the line is fiendishly difficult, and there are many alternatives along the way, eg 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 Rae8 20.Ng5!? Qg3+ 21.Kh1 Qxf2, when Black only has two pawns for a bishop, but with what seems an even stronger attack.
14...Bxb3?!
Probably the immediate 14...Ne8 is better.
15.Qxb3 Ne8 16.Rad1 h6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Nf5
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| The contrast with the previous diagrams could hardly be starker, without any bits being exchanged - White has a big lead in development and activity |
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18...Kh7 19.Qc2 Rad8?
This somewhat natural looking move loses material.
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| What should White play? |
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20.Qd2
Possibly even stronger is the engines' 20.Bxh6!? gxh6 21.Qd2.
20...Rh8 21.dxe5
This wins a pawn.
21...Bxe3 22.Rxe3 d5 23.exd5 Rxd5 24.Qe1 Qd7 25.Rxd5 Qxd5 26.b3 Nc7 27.c4 Qd7
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| White has emerged a sound pawn up, but the engines reckon White's advantage is worth closer to a minor piece |
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28.Qb1 Rd8 29.Nd6 Ne8 30.Nxe8 Rxe8 31.Nh4 Re6 32.Nxg6 Rxg6 33.Rg3 Qe6 34.Rxg6?
Misjudging the ending.
34...Qxg6 35.Qxg6+!?
This is Dragon1's top choice, and for quite some time is regarded by it as giving White the upper hand, but keeping queens on may well have been better.
35...Kxg6
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| White cannot save the extra pawn |
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36.f4 Kf5 37.g3 g5 38.fxg5
AP offered a draw.
38...Kxg5?
The pawn recapture draws.
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| White to play and win |
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39.e6!
Now White will be able to create a kingside passer to divert Black's king, allowing White's king to successfully invade the queenside.
39...fxe6 40.Kf2 Kf5
39...fxe6 40.Kf2 Kf5
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| White has one winning move |
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41.Ke3
This looks natural, but the engines show the winning move is 41.Kf3! The point is that if Black replies 41...c5, which draws after the text, White has 42.g4+, eg 42...Ke5 43.Ke3 b6 44.a4 Kf6 45.h4 etc.
41...h5?
Drawing is 41...c5. Indeed White has to be careful as 42.g4+? loses to 42...Kg5 etc. White can try 42.Kf3, but 42...Ke5! draws, eg 43.g4 Kd4 44.h4 e5 45.g5 hxg5 46.hxg5 Kd3 47.g6 e4+ 48.Kf4 e3, after which both sides queen.
42.g4+?
Several moves win, including 42.b4, 42.Kf3 and 42.c5.
42...hxg4 43.hxg4+ Kxg4 44.Ke4 a5
Also drawing is 44...c5.
45.Ke5 Kf3 46.Kxe6 Ke4 47.Kd6 Kd4 48.Kc7
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| Black to play and draw |
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48...a4?
48...a4?
Drawing is 48...Kc3 49.Kxb7 Kb2 50.Kxc6 Kxa2 51.Kb5 Kxb3 etc.
The game finished:
49.Kxb7 c5 50.bxa4 Kxc4 51.a5 Kd3 52.a6 c4 53.a7 c3 58.a8=Q c2 1-0
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