kylemeister wrote on 01/27/08 at 20:02:03:
One thing I think of in connexion with this stuff is a book from about 1980 called, I think, Understanding the Open Games (except Ruy Lopez). It was written by a few American GM/IMs (people like Edmar Mednis, John Peters and Andrew Soltis) and published by RHM, who published some very nice books in those days.
I bought several copies of this book during the 90s, when it was still available, and handed them out to my students at the time. It really was a nice introduction to how to handle these systems. Unfortunately it can't be obtained any more (I believe I did save a copy for myself, though).
As for the Scotch Gambit, it's scarcely a problem for Two Knights players, who would presumably play 4...Nf6. That's how I play, anyway. There are, of course, other fully adequate answers, such as 4...Bc5 5.c3 Nf6.
I agree with MNb that the Evans may be White's best way to play the Italian if he wants to play in gambit fashion, though 4.d4 would probably also be fine in a club setting. I would recommend meeting the Two Knights with 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0. That should be good enough to win games in club play. As one and one's opponents grew stronger, one could substitute 5.e5.