- ECO code
- C50
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3
- Family
- Italian Game
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 447
- Average game length
- 48 moves
- Years covered
- 1851–2026
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo is the opening filed under ECO code C50, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3. It belongs to the Italian Game family and is known as the Giuoco Pianissimo; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 447 games on this line — the 232nd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1851 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 316 games. An average game here lasts 48 moves.
White wins 34% of those games, 35% end in a draw, and Black wins 31%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 3 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 4...Nf6, played in 388 games, followed by 4...d6 (50) and 4...h6 (6). After 4...Nf6 White scores 34% and Black 29%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Aronian,L (40 games); on the Black side, Grischuk,A (49).
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Results in master games
- White 34% (152)
- Draws 35% (156)
- Black 31% (139)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4...Nf6 | 388 | 34/37/29 | — |
| 4...d6 | 50 | 32/18/50 | — |
| 4...h6 | 6 | 66/17/17 | — |
| 4...a6 | 2 | 50/50/0 | — |
| 4...f6 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 e5 · 24,632 games
- King's Knight Opening · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 · 21,895 games
- King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 · 19,295 games
- Italian Game · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 · 4,424 games
- Italian Game: Giuoco Piano · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 · 2,675 games
Played most often by
As White
- Aronian,L 40
- Firouzja,Alireza 26
- Kramnik,V 22
As Black
- Grischuk,A 49
- Nakamura,Hi 27
- So,W 25
Games per decade
- 1850s 3
- 1860s 1
- 1870s 2
- 1880s 3
- 1890s 8
- 1900s 9
- 1910s 2
- 1920s 5
- 1950s 2
- 1970s 2
- 1980s 2
- 1990s 4
- 2000s 4
- 2010s 84
- 2020s 316
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duda,J | Carlsen,M | 0-1 | 2026 | Chess.com Open Playoffs |
| Movahed,Sina | Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 28th Apr 2026 |
| Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | Madaminov,Mukhiddin | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | 3rd UzChess Cup Masters |
| So,W | Vidit,S | 0-1 | 2026 | Tata Steel India Blitz |
| Gukesh,D | Nihal,Sarin | 0-1 | 2026 | V Menorca Cerrado 2026 |
| Niemann,Hans Moke | Mamedyarov,S | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | 3rd UzChess Cup Masters |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo?
It is the opening with ECO code C50, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3. It belongs to the Italian Game family.
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo good for White or for Black?
In 447 master games on this line White wins 34%, 35% are drawn and Black wins 31%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo?
4...Nf6 — played in 388 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo?
On the White side Aronian,L (40), Firouzja,Alireza (26), Kramnik,V (22); on the Black side Grischuk,A (49), Nakamura,Hi (27), So,W (25).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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