A Repertoire against the Italian Game by Mihail Marin

Given White‘s difficulty in proving an advantage in a series of Ruy Lopez systems, the Italian game (also known as Giuoco Piano), has become increasingly popular. In the systems based on an early d2-d3 (Giuoco Pianissimo), White aims at submitting their opponent to the same kind of positional pressure as “The Spanish torture”, a term used by Tartakower for describing the strategic fight in the Ruy Lopez.

The repertoire against the Giuoco Pianissimo examined on this video course, provides Black with methods of evading this slightly one-sided pattern, yielding sound play in double-edged positions. The main motif is …g5, but if White makes commitments to prepare against it, Black can switch to comfortable versions of the positional struggle. The second group of systems examined, is characterised by White’s opening of the centre at an early stage with d4. Black doesn’t have anything to fear in these lines and should welcome White’s choice, since it also yields Black chances for counterplay. This video course also contains a database with all the games relevant to the repertoire, plus a selection of positions for practicing.

• Video running time: 5 hours 30 minutes(English)
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Model games database & Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels

Sample video

1. Introduction
2. Giuoco Pianissimo c3/d3
3. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6
4. Introduction
5. 6.0-0 d6 Sidelines
6. 6.0-0 d6 7.Bb3
7. 6.0-0 d6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Re1
8. 6.0-0 d6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Nbd2 h6 9.h3
9. 6.0-0 d6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Nbd2 h6 9.Re1
10. 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 Ba7 Sidelines
11. 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Re1
12. 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Nbd2 h6 9.b4
13. 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 Ba7 8.b4
14. 6.Nbd2 Ba7 7.Nf1/Bb3
15. 6.Nbd2 Ba7 7.Bb3 h6 8.h3
16. 5.b4 Bb6 6.d3 d6
17. Giuoco Piano c3/d4
18. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6
19. 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Kf1
20. 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nbd2
21. 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
22. 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2
23. 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 Sidelines
24. 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3/0-0
25. 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 Sidelines
26. 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Sidelines
27. 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Bg6 13.Qb3 Ne7 14.0-0 c6 15.Bd3 Nd2
28. Evans Gambit b4/c3/d4
29. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 d6
30. Introduction
31. 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.0-0 Bb6
32. 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.dxe5 Bb6
33. Sidelines
34. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5
35. 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 Sidelines
36. 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Na4 Bb6 7.Nxb6 axb6 8.c3 0-0 Sidelines
37. 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Na4 Bb6 7.Nxb6 axb6 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.h3
38. 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4