Giuoco Piano – Tactical 9.Bxf7+
If Black takes on e4 after 7.Bd2, White exchanges on b4 and exploits the two undefended black knights: 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5 11.Qxb4 restores material equality with the black king displaced to f7.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5 11.Qxb4
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...Bc5 – The Giuoco Piano: Black replies symmetrically, aiming at f2 and controlling d4 to hinder the d2-d4 advance.
- 4.c3 – Prepares d4: the c3 pawn takes d4 away from the c6-knight and will let White build an e4-d4 centre with tempo on the c5-bishop.
- 4...Nf6 – Counterattack on e4: Black develops and exploits the fact that c3 has taken away the natural defence Nc3.
- 5.d4 – White carries out the plan: d4 attacks e5 and the c5-bishop and challenges Black to give up the centre.
- 5...exd4 – The most common reply: Black gives up e5 and exchanges on d4, so White must recapture with the c-pawn and the c5-bishop is attacked again.
- 6.cxd4 – White gets the ideal e4-d4 centre and attacks the c5-bishop, which has to move.
- 6...Bb4+ – The most active check: instead of retreating, the bishop forces White to block, and if the knight comes to c3 it is pinned, preparing ...Nxe4.
- 7.Bd2 – The most solid block: it offers the exchange of dark-squared bishops and keeps the e4 pawn instead of sacrificing it as in 7.Nc3.
- 7...Nxe4 – Black takes on e4 and adds a second attack on the d2-bishop, but leaves the b4-bishop exposed to an exchange.
- 8.Bxb4 – White exchanges bishops: after ...Nxb4 the black knight ends up on b4 without protection, ready for a double attack.
- 8...Nxb4 – Black recaptures with the c6-knight, but now the knights on b4 and e4 are both unprotected.
- 9.Bxf7+ – The thematic sacrifice: White strips the king of its cover and drags it onto the b3-f7 diagonal, preparing Qb3+.
- 9...Kxf7 – Accepting is the natural choice, but the king lands exactly on the diagonal where the queen check will come.
- 10.Qb3+ – A check with a double attack: the queen hits the king on f7 and the undefended b4-knight, regaining the sacrificed piece.
- 10...d5 – Black blocks with the pawn, which also supports the e4-knight and frees the c8-bishop.
- 11.Qxb4 – The queen wins back the piece: material is level, but the black king has lost castling rights while White can still castle.
How to exploit the position
Material is level: White can still castle, Black has a strong knight on e4 but his king has been displaced to f7. The game revolves around the black king's safety and the e4-knight.
- O-O followed by Nc3 or Nbd2 to challenge the e4-knight, Black's best piece.
- Ne5+ with check: the knight takes the outpost protected by d4 and hits the king on f7 again.
- The queen on b4 controls e7 and f8, making it harder for Black to connect his rooks.
- When the black king goes to g8, Re1 attacks the e4-knight and the queen can return to b3 on the diagonal towards g8.
Master tips
Remember Bxf7+ and Qb3+
When a black knight on b4 is undefended, the b3-f7 diagonal allows a check with a double attack.