Hidden line in the Italian Game | Crushing Chess Opening for White

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🔹 The Unbeatable Bishop’s Opening (simple and powerful) - • The Unbeatable Bishop’...
📥 Download the PGN of these opening lines from this blog-post - chess-teacher.com/italian-gam...
The Italian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4. White's bishop takes aim at the Black's vulnerable f7-square, which is one of the main weaknesses of Black in the King's Pawn openings. The opening is also called as Giuoco Piano, particularly after Black plays the symmetrical 3...Bc5.
Generally, the Italian Game is full of tactics and attacking opportunities for White. At the same time, it is a very solid and sound opening. Therefore, even if your opponent is aware of all the traps set by you, at least you will get an equal, playable position. Most importantly, you have a great chance to crush your opponents early in the game, if they are not well prepared.
In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov walks you through the opening, breaking down the theories, so that you will understand the core idea of this aggressive chess opening. He will also share with you a HIDDEN line (not too popular), which will give you a strong attacking position. It is guaranteed that you can surprise your opponents and win a lot of games!
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► Chapters
00:00 Chess Opening: Italian Game
00:48 Giuoco Piano: Black's symmetrical response
01:23 Play aggressively as White
03:38 Black has to force the exchange
05:42 Spectacular checkmate!
06:44 Comparison with Bishop's Opening
07:59 If Black closes the diagonal with d5
10:09 Black's most dangerous response: Bxc3
13:07 Hidden line that books don't teach you
14:41 2/3 moves loses for Black
17:35 Can you find the winning move?
18:03 White checkmates Black, again!
19:11 Black's ONLY correct move
20:01 Conclusion: End of the opening
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#GMSmirnov #ChessOpenings #ItalianGame

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@arthurwieczorek4894]

RxN, removing the piece that can interpose and now threatening nyet.

[@NavoTheTrueGod]

dont click the link according to VT unless you wanna be phished

[@GoBlueHTB]

17:40 I'm probably extremely late and someone else likely mentioned it but my guess is RxE7, sacrificing THE ROOOOOK because after black's queen captures, Qh8 is checkmate. I really hope I'm right because otherwise I sacrificed THE ROOOOK for nothing.

[@Checkerchamp]

I also got that. Worst case scenario white is up 3 points of material, every other case is mate in 1 or 2

[@Checkerchamp]

Rex7 is correct and Stockfish even calls it a Brilliant Move

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Chess Opening: Italian Game 00:48 Giuoco Piano: Black's symmetrical response 01:23 Play aggressively as White 03:38 Black has to force the exchange 05:42 Spectacular checkmate! 06:44 Comparison with Bishop's Opening 07:59 If Black closes the diagonal with d5 10:09 Black's most dangerous response: Bxc3 13:07 Hidden line that books don't teach you 14:41 2/3 moves loses for Black 17:35 Can you find the winning move? 18:03 White checkmates Black, again! 19:11 Black's ONLY correct move 20:01 Conclusion: End of the opening

[@officialjonharrismusic]

“How can I remember all of these lines?” Easy I watch your videos constantly! Until I know the line! I love your videos!

[@TheAnshuman1974]

17:44 Puzzle: Rxe7 threatening Qh8# as well as Qxf7#. Now if Qxe7 then Qh8#. Or if Kg8, then Qxf7+ Kh8 Qg7# or Qh7#. Can it be called "Removing the Blocker"! 🤟

[@arthurwieczorek4894]

Removing the blocker before it blocks---and, in this case, at the same time causing interference ( the queen on e7).

[@mikejay9838]

ya but he gets a free bishop because its undefended?

[@TheAnshuman1974]

@@mikejay9838 Who cares for the bishop if one's getting the king in return! 😆

[@mikejay9838]

@@TheAnshuman1974 ohhhh, right ;)

[@MichielHabermann]

17:42 what if Be8? Then Qh8 is not mate because king can capture the rook

[@niravapurv4578]

Lovely variations, not easy to remember but i hope seeing ideas like this many times enough will help to find similar ideas over the board.

[@markforster8865]

13:00 - for the people that run into 13...Nf5, just follow up with 14. Qd5 d6 15. Bg5. Usually opponents grab it, you recapture with the knight, they capture with the queen (15...Lxg5 16. Nxg5 Qxg5). If they do, checkmate in 2: Qxf7+ Rxf7 Re8 checkmate

[@kalistadrake5226]

I

[@blujazz10000]

New subscriber here. Thank you very much for being generous with your knowledge and experience so we can improve our games.😀 You're a great teacher, how you talk us through the variety of sequences. Much respect, Thomas

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks for your warm words, Thomas. Welcome.

[@crashcondo]

Loving the vids and loving Italian!

[@matthewladonga5484]

I love ur videos Igor, keep up the great work 😄

[@chilakashalemraju3668]

Really great. Outstanding lecture. Thank you

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you liked it!

[@thomasmosesogugu7251]

Wow...That I need to understand the style of the opening, and not just cram the moves... I salute you GM Igor

[@lwandomasoka391]

Great analysis by GM Igor , keep it up 😎🔥👍

[@brianbledsoe3758]

Puzzle answer is just Rxe7. Kxe7 is not possible and Qxe7 meets Qh8# and Bxb5 meets Qf7#

[@libercivis4357]

*YES, that is the answer.* And after Qe8 then Bxd7 is game-over (Rd8 is useless because of Bxe8 Rxe8 Qxf7#; also useless is Kg8 because of Bxe8 Rxe8 Rxe8+ Kh7 Qh8#)

[@ganeshpillai7545]

I love all your videos

[@korekgas8718]

11:40 most player will not retreat their bishop but instead push an exchange by take knight to a4. You should mention how to handle this option .

[@muhammedga7303]

I'm late to ask this but I run into this exchange as well. Have you found a way to deal with it?

[@RayT70]

Thanks 👍

[@swapnilkosare454]

Nice one

[@naimwngvlog5840]

R×e7,Qxe7 Qh8 checkmate

[@marknieuweboer8099]

The first hidden line is 15...Bxb5! 16.Qxb5+ Qd7 and White is busted. The second hidden line is 13...O-O 14.Nxh7 Bf5 or Kxh7 drawing with accurate play. The third hidden line is 10...O-O 11.Rxe4 Ne7 12.d6 cxd6 13.Qxd6 Nf5 14.Qd5 Ne7 15.Qd6 Nf5 draw. All these lines have been hidden in my sample of a book written by IM George Botterill 35 years ago.

[@user-ji4fb5fi7j]

Good choices and I might add to your first line After 15...Bxb5 16.Qxb5+ Qd7 17.Qxb7 0-0 the white knight is En prise and Black is threatening KR-b8 winning the b pawn. I don't see how White can get any advantage. An experienced player would not find this too difficult to fine so in this position maybe it is best to follow the book lines after all?

[@matthewladonga5484]

New subscriber here, because i like ur tactics in chess

[@JeffvonJV]

wow,,thanks GM

[@brianbledsoe3758]

4.c3 is really sharp. 10.Ba3 is even stronger than 10.Qb3. Thank you for showing the second line after 11.d5. very exciting but I feel like your giving away my secret sauce for free. It's so awesome like you said they have played this line for over 400 years and it is still extremely strong for and never been refuted. I definitely like to play the Italian Game like Morphy as you pointed out. You don't want to defend.

[@dhruvsuperchessacademy5191]

Thank you very much. I play Italian most of the time.

[@mustaphakassab3943]

Great as usual, thanks Igor , but what about the best way to refute as black in the Italian game ? . 🌹🌹🌹

[@kenkur27]

3...Nf6. Not a refutation of course, but avoids a lot of traps.

[@zachr5779]

@@kenkur27 Hard disagree. Plays right into the Fried Liver Knight attack. And is considered a mistake overall.

[@Ksgggg]

Go for caro Or sicilian Or french

[@tobymurphy6744]

The fried liver is the move igor recommends so I highly doubt it's a mistake. When white plays fried liver you take their pawn with your knight which leads to a number if traps he goes through in another video

[@slshree1103]

11:24 engine says to save the bishop via Bf6 followed by Rfe1 Nce2(by black) Rxe4 followed by O-O.

[@slshree1103]

If dxc6 by white after Bf6, bxc6 Re1 followed by castles. (in this line we are down a knight but our king is safe from checkmate threats and attacks for the moment.) the engine gives black an evaluation of about -1 in both lines.

[@zahoorahmed6447]

Which app do u use fpr chess

[@ozimanta]

You're just awesome, at 21.22 I was laughed to death, 😂😂😂 thank youuuu ❤

[@jumalegacy9645]

Nice move it's like bishops opening

[@beatboxergamingroblox3040]

at 5:41 before you take the bishop with the rook you could move knight e5 and next move Queen F3 next move after that move your bishop d5 and they cant stop checkmate

[@morningstar6704]

After knight e5, what if black pushes pawn to d5? How can we check mate now??

[@glugglugington3196]

Actually trying to learn here and grow as a player. 17:31 E7 then F7 mate. I hope to achieve this mate at least once. Watching it reminds me of a mic drop, I wanna be the MC.

[@claytonatornorthover5283]

Thank You brother for the upload

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Welcome!

[@Checkerchamp]

For the puzzle at 17:41 I found Rxe7, threatening mate on h8 on the next 1-3 moves

[@dumbledalfthewizard9486]

Queen checks, knight blocks, queen slides up for mate

[@chitrak5258]

useful ji

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad to know that!

[@matijabaltic2949]

Is it rook takes E7, threatening checkmate, if the queen takes, then queen h8 mate?

[@matijabaltic2949]

I've been practising puzzles and made it to 2500 puzzle elo but I'm still stuck at 1200 elo. I'm having trouble recognising the puzzles mid to early game; could you pls make a vid on that, it would be awesome!

[@timetraveller2818]

@@matijabaltic2949 how to stop being stuck at 1200: 1.learn more about endgames , Former world champion capablanca says "In order to improve your game you must study the endgame" "The Best way to learn endgames, as well as openings is from the games of masters" 2.another advice is to not care too much about opening theory. learn 1 or 2 openings with black and white and master them until you reach 1600 atleast. I mastered the Scandinavian and got to 1200, Then i got bored with it and completely changed my opening repertoire as i got interested in Solid positional chess. Then, i used to play 1.e4 with white 1. d5 as black against e4 1.Kings Indian defence against 1.d4 That's All the theory i used to know. Now i play : 1.d4 as white 1.e6 (french defence )as black against 1.e4 Nimzo-indian against d4 Pick legit openings you *like* and the opening that *excites* you. 3.Now about the middle game and tactics issue: Look at Checks captures and attacks. Look if that move checks a king, if it captures a piece or if attacks a piece threatening it to move .( ex:Knight attacks the Queen forcing it to move) why these moves? because that have high chances of creating tactical combinations. Also think About WHY your opponent made that move reduces of you blundering less significantly. 4. Time management: The best way to think faster is:1. Play longer time controls ,by that i mean ,time controls>15|10 2. Get good at middle game planning : having a set plan in the middle game reduces the amount of time you spend significantly. I recently got 15 ,yes 15 win streak in bullet, like 70% of the games is me just flagging and understanding the position better than my opponent 5. Learn other tactical motifs like: Greek gift sacrifice, in-between moves etc and other stuff like calculation. 6.Staying positive and having fun is a very important step, if you want to start getting good at chess. You should not get frustrated by your failures but rather start treating them as a part of the training. former world champion capablanca says "You must lose 1000 games before becoming a good chess player" You need to anylaze these loses with engines ,a computer can't tell you *Why* it was a mistake ,but it will surely teach you to avoid them next time. That's it. peace.

[@mohammadarmanansari7624]

Yes

[@binodtharu8348]

@@timetraveller2818 thanks!

[@ToriYamazaki]

In the Bxc3 line, after 14.Bb5+...Bd7, 15.Qe2...Bxb5 and black is better. Otherwise good study.

[@lindleycanonigo200]

how about after checking the black king on f3 by queen and black bishop covering it on f5 so how u can proceed? coz black the defend his bishop by pushing the pawn on g6 and rook to e8 to defend the horse.

[@MaximeSenza]

Rxe7, if queen takes Qh8 mate? If queen doesn't take Qxf7 mate The kind of crazy line that seems to not finish by a mate is if the black queen goes d8 after the Rxd7, which is just giving her away (& then the rook), but doesn't seem to be a straight mate right?

[@-Muhammad_Ali-]

I love this opening and play really agressively. Now, interestingly, I beat most guys from most countries with this opening BUT the guys from Italy. Really. Surprisingly, many Italians seem to be knowledgeable about this opening and give me a very tough challenge. I wonder if their knowledge comes from them studying the moves OR if their mentality comes to play and that they are kinda get a feeling about where the moves are being taken. I don't know :D

[@allgamer3679]

They ARE the Italian opening ofc they would

[@johnlavers3970]

i love this line. i won many games at club play or speed chess with this line until my opponents were forced to learn it. i found the line and several like it in a book of historical chess games. it was played by el greco hundreds of years ago. there must have been some great players back then we will never know about

[@sujayvarma7239]

OP tqu

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Welcome!

[@Zamiroh]

What's the response when you push d5 and they move na5, threatening your bishop? You can move it, but it goes to a non optimal space. Just defend with pawn?

[@gobindtanaka6667]

R:d7 removes the knight that would block the Q check on h8, so Black Q cannot take the Re7 because that upgrades the Q check to checkmate

[@lefterislef5630]

you mean e7!

[@steliosioannou4996]

maybe i am not so good player,i have 2123 fide rating,amateur player,but i think in the last postition after Qe2, black can play Bishop takes bishop,Queen takes bishop and after black Queen d7 and king to f8 white is loosing completly.2 pawns down and no so attacking chances

[@joshuathered1100]

1. Bxd7 2. Qxd7 3. Rxe7 4. Qxe7 5. Qh8 mate! Because the black Queen closes off the escape square

[@bladmorane7613]

GREAT TRUE STUFF FOR TODAY REALITY!!!!!

[@mikekeenan8450]

Solution to puzzle: 1. Rxe7. If 1. ... Qxe7, 2. Qh8 mate; if 1. ... Kg8, 2. Qxf7ch and mate next move.

[@kevintony5735]

how to get the position in the thumbnail?

[@nicovanderwilt7502]

Learned it the first time in a kasparov ps2 game.

[@shlomo7345]

After queen to b3, why can't the black play pon to d5 attacking the bishop and if wight takes so queen to e7 and then it's the same situation with black favor?

[@user-ly3wi8gt7o]

جميل ورلئع

[@kalistadrake5226]

@17:40 Rxe7 !! threatening mate, whatever black does it is mate next move!

[@peterbrown6224]

Rxe7 Qxe7 Qh8 ++ This video is already one year old. You've obviously put much time and effort into developing their quality, and it shows. Thank you.

[@josephsalmonte4995]

I love your videos Igor & your English is far superior to my Russian, but 'Targets' is pronounced Tar-Gits. NOT Tar-Jits. Just saying. Keep up the great work 👍

[@marwanahmed3733]

1.Bxd2 Qxd2 .. 2. Rxe2 Qxe2 .. 3. Qh8 check mate

[@KumarBendrake]

Of course you have to understand basic opening theory. But I moved from.an 1100 two almost 1400 simply by memorizing my favorite opening lines. I do this by simply watching one of my favorite saved videos every few days. You don't even have to work it memorizing lines, because sooner or later the repetition will become ingrained. What's interesting is this. I lose more often to players that are ranked 100 points below me or more, then I do players ranked above me. Why? I tend to underestimate lower ranked players who consistently pull me out of my opening game preparations, where as higher ranked players play the exact moves that are prepared in this video. The lesson to be learned I think, is to find unexplored variations and learn them inside and out. Then try to find ways to drag your opponent into familiar territory

[@jan57christiansen]

What if black after 9...Bxa1 10.Bxf7+ Kf1 11.Ne5 play d5 ?

[@krishivv3078]

Rxe7 is the winning move

[@fidelisbonye6152]

What if black opponent makes the move g6 or Qf6 @time stamp 10:07 what is the best counter move to mate??

[@srinikeshiyer]

Qxh7# in both cases

[@andrewucla]

Imagine giving this a thumbs down

[@souravdey1037]

what if black goes d5 instead of knight c3 capturing the knight in the beginning

[@raimondsmackaitis6815]

mate in 2

[@namedperson1436]

The challenge at 17:30... probably rook E7 and whatever black plays I go queen H8. It should be a mate.

[@4aryannaircoaj428]

It's not mate. The king will take the rook

[@4aryannaircoaj428]

The mate happens only when queen takes the rook

[@namedperson1436]

@@4aryannaircoaj428 King can't take the rook since it is protected by the queen.

[@4aryannaircoaj428]

@@namedperson1436 I mean if QH8 then the rook is not protected at E7

[@namedperson1436]

Correct, but then the king gets back rank mated after QH8.

[@rsmith9094]

There's a huge flaw at 5:07 ... black knight could take white pawn on D4, threatening white queen

[@creativeworld923]

No you can go Queen to a3 check

[@justsomeboyprobablydressed9579]

At the very end @20:00, instead of 17...Bxb5, giving White a slightly better endgame with some winning chances, I think Black can make an easy draw with 17...Be6! Then White has nothing better than 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+, and then Black must continue 19...Rf7, after which neither player can do better than to enter a very equal endgame after 20.Be8 Qxe8 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+.

[@psychhG]

what if at 10:07, black mqkes move of Qg8?

[@JalenThomas-tg9gm]

Then you take the black Queen if it is black turn

[@ronaldtagulao4397]

Rook takes horse threatening checkmate,black queen takes rook then white queen checkmate in h8

[@fenek6075]

rock e7 check mate next move ]

[@Valentine_2]

Pls I couldn't find the winning move need help

[@ernestogarcillan1977]

1. Rxe7 Qxe7 2. Qh8#

[@beloglavisup2]

Old Indian Defense, any near future?

[@lizardoabella4189]

Rook x night Queen x rook Queen rook 8 check mate

[@axelarellano841]

10:55 "but ofcourse, we don't wanna make black's lives easy" sheesh

[@sudheeranavaratne2763]

17:35 Rook takes e7 Knight if Queen takes Rook, Queen h8 is mate and if they play any other move Queen f7 is mate. They are the only 2 forcing moves. You must play them or you loose. Wow

[@emmanuelwinz3361]

How is queen f7 mate? I'm very confused 🤔

[@walterbates1654]

There is something to be said about enjoying life. I cannot go without more red meat than you do. Thank you.for another great vid

[@John-pn7bh]

R takes Knight, if queen takes rook it is checkmate and if queen doesn't take rook it's checkmate.

[@rafaney9778]

Re1:e7 😊

[@satpalsaini1393]

11:53 what if black play queen to e7

[@roadtogm6530]

Re7 Qxe7 Qh8 mate

[@lindleycanonigo200]

rook takes horse and if queen takes horse black king mate in Qh8 if black bishop move to e6 to defend the f7 pawn d5xe6 then if black queen move to e8 to defend the f7 white bishop takes queen and black rook takes bishop and f6xf7 mate or after white rook took the black horse if black king move he will mate in 2 moves.

[@iliaskommas3574]

E1xE7 and if D8xE7 then F6 H8 checkmate!...

[@Danthemanfromny]

Bd3?

[@slshree1103]

8:23 But what if Nxd4 happens in the game by black

[@srinikeshiyer]

Qxc3 free piece

[@davidbatchelder85]

Rxe7, Black Qxe7, white Queen h8 #

[@freecoder522]

15:54 - " master technique by GM "

[@CB-jq7fe]

👍

[@saranyas7228]

Qh8# is the answer

[@reneflug4243]

10:05 what about Queen G8 for black ?

[@tanteline7800]

you can play Nxf7 and black can only take it with the Queen (Qxf7)

[@tanteline7800]

so black is forced to give up his queen

[@veijoniiduomai3619]

White should play rock e 7 or capture the horse with rock

[@invictus9976]

White rook takes knight on e7... black should resign...next move is mate.

[@hhoarchivedvideos7636]

Bishop takes bishop

[@nabilotnabil3802]

Caro kan

[@jorgebravo5060]

RxN

[@abhilrajchekku6730]

My

[@smesho7]

E6

[@jperk7714]

Took takes knight

[@rickwilliams8934]

Bxd7, Qxd7; Rxe7, Qxe7; Qh8 mate

[@bowenmiller2649]

Rxn