C59 Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense
C59 holds four named lines, all under the name Italian Game. It leaves C58 (Italian Game: Two Knights Defense) with 8...h6. Three captures are made along the reference line, the most of the 10 Italian Game codes. At 16 plies, its reference line is the longest of the 10 Italian Game codes. Black’s pieces and pawns attack 11 squares in White’s half, the most of the 10 Italian Game codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3 | Bc4 | Nf6 |
| 4 | Ng5 | d5 |
| 5 | exd5 | Na5 |
| 6 | Bb5+ | c6 |
| 7 | dxc6 | bxc6 |
| 8 | Be2 | h6 |
Moves only C59 plays
Same as C58 up to 5...Na5, then:
- 6.Bb5+ The bishop goes from c4 to b5, giving check.
- 6...c6 The c-pawn advances to c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the queen on d8, attacking the bishop on b5.
- 7.dxc6 The d-pawn takes the pawn on c6, covering b7 and d7.
- 7...bxc6 The b-pawn takes the pawn on c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the bishop on c8, attacking the bishop on b5.
- 8.Be2 The bishop goes from b5 to e2.
- 8...h6 The h-pawn advances to h6, covering g5, opening a line for the rook on h8, attacking the knight on g5.
Lines filed under C59
All four share their first 16 plies, the whole reference line and then split two ways at White’s move 9.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense | (the shared start itself) | 16 | White +1 |
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation | 9.Nh3 | 17 | White +1 |
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Göring Variation | 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Qc7 | 20 | White +1 |
| Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation | 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 11.d4 Qc7 12.Bd2 | 23 | White +1 |
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation
- 9.Nh3 The knight goes from g5 to h3.
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Göring Variation
- 9.Nf3 The knight goes from g5 to f3.
- 9...e4 The e-pawn advances to e4, covering d3 and f3, attacking the knight on f3.
- 10.Ne5 The knight goes from f3 to e5, opening a line for the bishop on e2.
- 10...Qc7 The queen goes from d8 to c7, attacking the knight on e5.
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knorre Variation
- 9.Nf3 The knight goes from g5 to f3.
- 9...e4 The e-pawn advances to e4, covering d3 and f3, attacking the knight on f3.
- 10.Ne5 The knight goes from f3 to e5, opening a line for the bishop on e2.
- 10...Bd6 The bishop leaves f8 for d6, opening a line for the rook on h8, attacking the knight on e5.
- 11.d4 The d-pawn advances two squares to d4, covering c5 and e5, opening a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1.
The road to C59
- 1.e4 … 5...Na5nine earlier stops: B00, C20, C40, C44, C50, C55, C57, C58
- 6.Bb5+C58 Bishop Check Line
- 8.Be2C58 Two Knights Defense
- 8...h6C59
The position after 8...h6
White has brought out the knight on g5 and bishop on e2; Black the knight on a5 and knight on f6. White has a half-open e-file; Black a half-open b-file, d-file. White could capture with Nxf7. White is to move and has 34 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C57 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack | ten squares: e2, c4, e4, a5, c6, h6, b7, c7 … |
| B59 | Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation | 12 squares: b1, d2, b3, c3, e4, a5, g5, c6 … |
| C55 | Italian Game: Two Knights Defense | 12 squares: e2, f3, c4, e4, a5, g5, c6, h6 … |
| C65 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 12 squares: e2, f3, e4, a5, b5, g5, c6, h6 … |
| C24 | Bishop’s Opening: Berlin Defense | 13 squares: g1, e2, c4, e4, a5, g5, c6, h6 … |
| C42 | Petrov’s Defense | 13 squares: f1, e2, f3, e4, a5, g5, c6, h6 … |
| A05 | Zukertort Opening | 14 squares: f1, e2, f3, a5, e5, g5, c6, h6 … |