With the seemingly bulletproof Berlin Wall and Marshall Attack
continuing to thwart White's best efforts to find an advantage in the
Ruy Lopez, many top players have incorporated the Italian Game (1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) along with the related Bishop's Opening (2.Bc4) into
their repertoires. GM Martyn Kravtsiv shares his insights on The Italian
Renaissance from White's perspective.The first topic is the Bishop's
Opening, which can be used as an Anti-Petroff move order as well as a
weapon in its own right. 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 may or may not transpose to the
main Italian lines, and it is useful to have it in your arsenal in order
to choose the most effective sequence against each opponent.Next is the
more popular 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3. Before reaching the Italian, White must be
ready to deal with the Petroff Defense (2...Nf6). Kravtsiv advocates the
well-regarded 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 variation, offering an array of
weapons to cause problems for Black, including a large number of
untested yet dangerous ideas.Join The Italian Renaissance and create
your own masterpieces!