29. Two Knights with 4.d3 (Transposition into the Pianissimo)
With 4.d3 White defends e4 and after 4...Bc5 the Giuoco Pianissimo of chapter 2 arises. Black plays ...a5 and ...Be6 to challenge the b3-bishop's diagonal.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nbd2 a5 8.Bb3 Be6
Move by move
- 1.e4 – Occupies the centre and frees the queen and the f1-bishop, which in the Italian Game goes to c4 to aim at the weak f7 point.
- 1...e5 – Black contests the centre at once: the e5 pawn controls d4 and f4 and opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop and the queen.
- 2.Nf3 – Development with an attack: the knight hits the e5 pawn, controls d4 and prepares quick kingside castling.
- 2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing and adds control of d4, the square White wants for a pawn.
- 3.Bc4 – The Italian Game move: the bishop aims at f7, defended only by the king, and controls d5, making ...d5 harder to achieve.
- 3...Nf6 – The Two Knights Defence: instead of 3...Bc5 Black develops the knight and immediately attacks e4. It is an active choice, but it allows White the 4.Ng5 attack against f7.
- 4.d3 – White defends e4 and gives up the complications of 4.Ng5 and 4.d4: this enters the slow structures of the Giuoco Pianissimo.
- 4...Bc5 – Black develops the bishop on the active diagonal towards f2: by transposition the position of chapter 2 arises (3...Bc5 4.d3 Nf6).
- 5.c3 – Prepares d4 and gives the c4-bishop a retreat to b3 or c2 if Black plays ...Na5; it also takes d4 away from the c6-knight.
- 5...d6 – Black reinforces e5 and opens the c8-bishop's diagonal: he too chooses a solid, flexible structure.
- 6.O-O – White castles before choosing a plan: the rook can go to e1 and the king is off the c5-bishop's diagonal.
- 6...O-O – Black castles and completes kingside development; the position is closed and neither side is in a hurry to break in the centre.
- 7.Nbd2 – White develops the knight before the rook: he prepares both Nf1-g3 and a possible Bb3 and d4.
- 7...a5 – Black gains space on the queenside, prevents b2-b4 and prepares ...a4 to disturb the bishop when it goes to b3; the c5-bishop can retreat to a7.
- 8.Bb3 – The bishop retreats in advance, so that on ...Be6 or ...Na5 it does not lose time; it keeps the a2-g8 diagonal towards f7 and, against ...a4, can return to c2.
- 8...Be6 – Black challenges the a2-g8 diagonal: if Bxe6 fxe6, Black gets the semi-open f-file and controls d5. Now it also threatens ...a4 or ...Bxb3.
How to exploit the position
A closed manoeuvring position with equal material: nobody has weaknesses and the fight concerns the a2-g8 diagonal and the timing of the d3-d4 break.
- Re1 and the Nd2-f1-g3 manoeuvre: the knight will control f5 and h5, and the rook defends e4.
- h3 prevents ...Ng4 (against f2, under fire from the c5-bishop) and ...Bg4.
- Against ...a4 answer with Bc2, or anticipate with a4 to fix the a5-pawn and keep the bishop on its diagonal.
- When the pieces are ready, d3-d4 attacks e5 and the c5-bishop with a gain of tempo.
Master tips
The b3-bishop and the exchange on e6
If you exchange on e6 Black recaptures fxe6 and gets the f-file and control of d5: do it only if the e6-pawn stays a target.