Hi everyone,

I'd like to play the Italian game as White while avoiding the complications of the Two Knights Defence.  I don't like the closed game after 4 d3, nor do I want to play the Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit after 4 0-0 Nxe4; 5 Nc3.  

There seems to be a 3d possibility, though:  4 Qe2, which looks akin to the Worrall Attack in the Ruy Lopez.  However, I couldn't find many games in this variation, and in almost all of them White would quickly follow up with d3, which I certainly wouldn't play. I don't think Pinski covers this line in his book on the Two Knights, since the Table of Contents only mentions 4 d3 besides the main lines 4 Ng5 and 4 d4.  

John Emms, however, does mention it in his excellent "Play the Open Games with Black", saying:

"it's not a bad move, but it does commit the Queen to e2 rather early.  That said, e2 can be a reasonable square for the White Queen, especially after Rfd1, c3 and d4 , so this plan must be treated with respect."  

After 4 ...e7; 5 c3 0-0; 6 0-0, he gives 2 variations, a solid one with 6 ...d6 and a Marshall-style gambit with 6 ...d5!?, but they both end at move 10.   

Emms' comment is certainly ecourageing but alas, not quite enough to assess this line, let alone try it out over the board.  So I'd very much appreciate any comments, reference to books, articles, and/or games anyone out there could come up with in connection with this line.
Many