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11

Italian Game · Lesson 3 of 3

Italian Game: Prepare before you push

A centre push is only as good as the pawn that recaptures behind it.

5 min · 7 steps · You play White

The idea: c3 first, so a pawn can recapture on d4

This is the written edition of an interactive lesson. In the app you play every position on the board; here you read it.

Decide

Step 1 · What supports the push?

White to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 6

You want d4, and you want a pawn to stay on d4 afterwards.

Which move prepares that?

Quick check

  • Pawn to c3
  • Pawn to d4 right now
  • Pawn to b4
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Pawn to c3 — 6.c3. When d4 comes, …exd4 is met by cxd4 and a pawn stands on d4 again.

  • Pawn to d4 right now — 6.d4? …Nxd4! Nxd4 Bxd4 and there is no pawn to recapture: you traded your centre pawn for nothing.
  • Pawn to b4 — 6.b4? …Bxb4. The Evans idea, but here it just loses a pawn.

Watch

Step 2 · The push, prepared

Black to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/1pp2ppp/p1np1n2/2b1p3/2BPP3/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7

After 6.c3 a6 7.d4: …exd4 cxd4. The c-pawn recaptured, two pawns stand in the centre, and the bishop on c5 is attacked and must retreat. That tempo is what c3 bought.

The line: 7…e5xd4 8.c3xd4

Your move

Step 3 · Prepare it

White to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p1B1/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RN1QK2R w KQkq - 2 6

Your pieces are out. Prepare d4 so that a pawn can recapture.

Hint: Before d4, put a pawn on c3 so a pawn can recapture.

The move: 6.c2-c3

6.c3. Now d4 is a real option, and the bishop has the b3–c2 route if it is chased.

Also good here

  • 6.Nb1-c3 — Also fine: developing first, planning Nd5 rather than d4.
  • 6.O-O — Also fine: castle first, c3 next.
  • 6.Bg5-h4 — Also fine: keeping the pin; c3 can come next.

Why not another move?

  • 6.d3-d4 — …Nxd4! wins a pawn: the push had no support.
  • 6.Bg5xf6 — …Qxf6: you gave up the bishop pair for nothing.
  • 6.h2-h3 — Playable, but a useful move some other day; today it does nothing for d4.

Watch

Step 4 · Timing

Black to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2PP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 6

Black castles. Your c3 is in. The question now is timing: is d4 ready?

The reply: 6…O-O

Decide

Step 5 · Is it ready?

White to move

FEN: r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2PP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 1 7

c3 is in, both kings are home.

Is d4 ready now?

Quick check

  • Not yet: prepare with Re1 or Nbd2 first
  • Yes, push now
  • No, forget d4
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: Not yet: prepare with Re1 or Nbd2 first — Not yet. 7.d4 Bb6 8.d5 Ne7 and your centre is overextended before the pieces are ready. Prepare with Re1, Nbd2 or h3 first; the push keeps.

  • Yes, push now — 7.d4? Bb6 and you must push d5 or lose the tension; either way Black’s pieces find good squares. A preparing move is clearly better.
  • No, forget d4 — d4 is the whole point of c3, just not this move. Bring the rook to e1 and the knight to d2 first.

Decide

Step 6 · Why c3 first?

Black to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/1pp2ppp/p1np1n2/2b5/2BPP3/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 8

The push happened and a pawn stands on d4 again.

Why did c3 have to come before d4?

Quick check

  • So a pawn recaptures on d4
  • To prepare b4
  • To open the queen’s diagonal
Show the correct answer

Correct answer: So a pawn recaptures on d4 — So that after …exd4 a pawn recaptures on d4. Two centre pawns, and the bishop on c5 is hit.

  • To prepare b4 — c3 does support b4 later, but that is not why it came first.
  • To open the queen’s diagonal — c3 does open the d1–a4 diagonal, a side effect. The reason is the pawn recapture on d4.

On your own

Step 7 · On your own

White to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/2p1bppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQR1K1 w kq - 0 8

A different opening, the Spanish. You want d4 later. Prepare it.

Hint: You want d4 with a pawn to recapture. Which pawn must move first?

The move: 8.c2-c3

8.c3. Now d4 will be recaptured by a pawn, and the bishop has c2 if …Na5 comes.

Also good here

  • 8.a2-a4 — Also strong: hitting b5 first is a real plan here; c3 follows.

Why not another move?

  • 8.d2-d4 — …Nxd4 Nxd4 exd4 and no pawn recaptures: you traded your centre away.
  • 8.Nf3-g5 — …O-O and the knight achieved nothing.
  • 8.Nb1-c3 — Blocks the c-pawn you need, and after …Na5 your bishop has no c2 square.
  • 8.d2-d3 — One square is passive: …Na5 and the bishop pair goes. Playable, not the plan.

A quick refresher

In the app this position is not part of the lesson itself: it comes back later, as a review, to check that the idea stuck.

Your move

Same idea, quieter bishop

White to move

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp1bppp/2np1n2/4p3/2B1P3/3P1N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq - 0 6

Black’s bishop is on e7 this time. Prepare d4.

Hint: d4 needs a pawn on c3 first.

The move: 6.c2-c3

6.c3. d4 is prepared and the bishop has a retreat square.

Also good here

  • 6.a2-a4 — Also good: space first, c3 next.
  • 6.Bc4-b3 — Also fine: the bishop steps back before …Na5; c3 next.
  • 6.a2-a3 — Fine: preparing b4 space; c3 still to come.

Why not another move?

  • 6.d3-d4 — …exd4 and you recapture with a piece; the centre pawn is gone.
  • 6.Rf1-e1 — Playable, but …Na5 and the bishop pair goes: c3 first frees c2 for the bishop.
  • 6.Nb1-c3 — Playable, but it blocks the c-pawn: …Na5 Bd5 c6 and the bishop is chased.

What you learned

Before pushing a centre pawn, put a pawn beside it that can recapture. Then wait until your pieces are ready to use the open lines.

In your next game

Before d4 (or …d5), check which pawn recaptures if it is taken. If none, play c3 (or …c6) first. After preparing, look at whether your rook and knights are ready before you push.