TN didn't specify the line in the post I quoted, but a quick re-read of the whole thread shows he suggested this:

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A quick run through SF shows both the Tn and the Kravtsiv lines as posted by Jonathan analyze as equal and are quite similar. I wouldn't speak for TN, but this is likely it. Also, thanks to Scarlac & Jonathan for replying! The OP was looking for best books in the Italian and I think the link makes a fitting way to keep the thread current.

cathexis wrote on 05/22/22 at 22:50:14:


The Quality Chess book The Italian Renaissance II by Kravstiv qualifies, I believe? http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/1/361/the_italian_renaissance_-_ii_the_ma... .

Haven't read it myself, no idea about its quality, but from the contents I do believe it has the a4 approach.

I think TN has convinced me. I'll probably give up the Ruy Lopez for the Italian (with the 4.0-0 move order) and maybe play the Scotch Gambit too. I like the idea of the Italian being somewhat of a system opening, where you aren't required to learn tons of lines that that are very different from each other. The Italian seems more like you're just playing a game of chess.

Italian is the easiest to start with - after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 you could play Bb3/0-0/Nbd2/h3/Re1/Nf1-g3/d4(Bc2) almost as a system opening - a bit like a Ruy Lopez but where you don't have to consider what to do against 3...f5, the Berlin, the Open Spanish, etc. Keep in mind that you can reach the Scotch Gambit positions with 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 or 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 - so it would not be difficult to incorporate the more direct approach later. 

To be successful with the d3 Spanish lines, it's quite important to have experience with and understanding of the classical Re1 lines, as similar positions often arise when White later plays d3-d4 (having avoided immediate ...Bg4 counterplay). 

Btw, to not give the wrong impression, Muller/Souleidis do have a chapter on 'other approaches' in their book where they include the a4 approach, but in my view one would need quite a bit more knowledge to play it successfully today.

Yes, it's still useful, and it also gives you some extra options against the 4...Nf6 5.d3 0-0 move order. I don't think Avrukh's 'Repertoire against the Modern Italian' database was mentioned, but I think it's a good starting point from Black's POV, though the fashionability of the Italian means that any book quickly falls out of date!

So I will say the best Italian repertoire book is yet to be written - namely, the one concentrating on the fashionable a4 approach. The article on the Italian Game in the 50 Moves Magazine is already out of date, but may serve as a useful starting point for White in this line. Sokolov also nicely annotated an Italian game from the Olympiad in the first 'American Chess Magazine'. 

Fllg wrote on 06/06/16 at 19:29:13:


Regarding 6. 0-0 Emms agrees on p. 66 that "it's early days" and "it will be interesting too see how this relatively fresh line progresses." But the line he actually recommends is 6. b4 which I play and am very happy with. 

Wow. Quite the claim there re: Ng5 and a small edge. Assuming the software is powered up. Specifics...?

Many thanks Fllg, this is very useful. I see Black's idea! Meanwhile it seems I should look at Saric's video as well as Emms' book ...

In the delayed-c3 line, maybe 6 Nbd2!? inhibits 6 ...d5 as well? At any rate I think 7 ed Nd5 8 Ne4 Be7 9 Re1 (Giri-Bacrot) has been given as a slight(?) edge to White.

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Very interesting! I always assumed this was better for White -- am I out of date, or just wrong? Can anyone summarise briefly the main modern battlegrounds? -- does Saric's video cover these well? (I've often thought of acquiring Gary Lane's book on the Bishop's Opening, but perhaps that's out of date now? ...)

Emms' book is very good. In fact he is always reliable. A good author.
Tiv's DVD - also well worth a visit. True, his delivery is not too smooth, but he is always organized and thorough. I go there to learn chess, not to find a life partner.

I noticed that NIC apparently has a forthcoming book called "Winning with the Slow (but Venomous!) Italian: An Easy-to-Grasp Chess Opening for White,"  by the German-Greek IM Georgios Souleidis.  (I know of him largely from his collections of "Gurken," i.e. blunders, from the Bundesliga.)

Not sure  if you are interested in videos, but GM Stefan Kindermann has a video series on the c3 d3 Italian. Very good. I would hazard a guess it is aimed at 1400-1800 coming to c3 d3 Italian for the first time.

Also noted, but have not personally viewed it, is GM Tiviakov's DVD for Chessbase.

BTW, also depends whether you wish to play the Italian with c3 d4 or the c3 d3. Quite different creatures. I guess depends on your strength.

Hello, I'm wondering which repertoire books that feature the italian game against 1. e4 e5 you all think are the best? I'm pretty unfamiliar with resources involving 1. e4 e5, having played 1. d4 exclusively for around 15 years. I'd personally be interested in learning more about it, have students that play it, and know the people here at chesspub are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to top quality books and learning resources. I checked earlier threads but mostly found questions about specific books or particular variations, not any questions regarding which repertoire books are the best. Thanks for your time.

If you know any high quality books about italian game pawn structure themes, or strategy in general I'd be happy to hear about them too!