the bishop to the active square c4 (the so-called ""), where it attacks Black's pawn on f7, protected only by the king. Black usually responds with 3...Bc5 (the Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (the Two Knights Defense).

The Italian is one of the oldest recorded chess openings, being played by players such as Pedro Damiano and Giulio Polerio in the 16th century, and later by Gioachino Greco in the 17th century, who developed