Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation

The Italian Game: Classical Variation, Greco Gambit, Greco Variation is a sharp and aggressive chess opening that can lead to exciting and tactical play.

The opening is characterized by an early pawn gambit by White, which aims to open up the center and create attacking chances. White sacrifices a pawn on d4 to open up lines for their pieces and to gain a lead in development. Black can accept the gambit by capturing the pawn, but doing so can lead to a dangerous position as White's pieces become more active.

In this variation, Black opts to counterattack by developing their knight to f6 and putting pressure on White's central pawn on e4. White then continues with their plan of opening the center by playing d4, and Black captures the pawn. White recaptures with the c-pawn, and Black develops their light-squared bishop to b4, giving a check.

White's knight on b1 comes to c3 to block the check, and Black captures the knight with their own knight on e4. White then castles kingside, and Black captures the knight on c3 with their bishop. This leads to a position where both sides have active pieces and chances for tactical play. The opening is named after the Italian chess player Gioachino Greco, who was one of the first to analyze and popularize it in the 17th century.