Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo
Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo (C54) starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3. In 7,467 games between strong players, White wins 40%, 22% are drawn and Black wins 38%; the most played move is 5…d6 (58%).
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3
- ECO
- C54
- Games between strong players
- 7,467
- To move
- Black
White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.
What strong players play next
The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.
| Move | Played | Results | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5…d6 | 58% (4,318) | – | |
| 5…O-O | 17% (1,277) | – | |
| 5…a6 | 15% (1,114) | Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, with a6 | |
| 5…a5 | 6% (473) | – | |
| 5…h6 | 2% (174) | – | |
| 5…Bb6 | 1% (87) | – |
Where it comes from and where it goes
Branches from Italian Game: Classical Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3
Top players' games in the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo, reviewed
- Parhamov vs nihalsarinChess.com blitz, 30 October 20260-1Accuracy 80.2 and 81.243.Qb3+
- Sina-Movahed vs wonderfultimeChess.com blitz, 20 October 20261-0Accuracy 87.7 and 84.536…Rf6
- Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus vs Murali Karthikeyan41st European Chess Club Cup 2026, Open, round 4, 20 October 20260-1Accuracy 84.0 and 89.427…Nxh4
More Italian Game lines
- Italian Game 37,217 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense 18,433 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Piano 16,352 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening 13,374 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal 10,039 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo 3,667 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack 3,250 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation 3,093 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense 2,567 games
- Italian Game: Classical Variation, Center Attack 2,526 games
- Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Bishop Check Line 2,397 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Italian Four Knights Variation 2,035 games
Played the Italian Game lately?
Enter your Chess.com or Lichess username: every move of your game labelled from Brilliant to Blunder, and where you left theory. Free, no account.