C50 Italian Game

ECO code C50 covers the Italian Game after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4, where White's bishop aims at the f7 square, the weak point beside Black's king. The main branch here is the Giuoco Pianissimo, 3...Bc5 with a quiet d3 from White. White does not open the centre early with c3 and d4 but builds slowly with castling, c3 and a later d4 or a kingside push. Black usually answers with ...Nf6, ...d6 and sometimes ...a6 to keep the bishop from being exchanged by a Na4 or traded by Be3. The code also includes the Hungarian Defence, 3...Be7, a solid, passive setup that avoids early tactics.