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Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 (Slow Italian) — Part 1 of 2

Topalov–So, London Chess Classic 2016 · Vachier-Lagrave–Swiercz, Sinquefield Cup 2021 · 6:04 · ECO C54

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In this video

Game 1: Veselin Topalov (2760) vs Wesley So (2794)

London Chess Classic 2016, 15 December 2016 · Black won (0-1) · 27 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 5...a6The first move after the opening line0:28
  2. 19.a5The evaluation moves from −1.08 to −2.78, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:24
  3. 21...Rf7The evaluation moves from −2.62 to −3.681:36
  4. 25.Rxc8The evaluation moves from −5.16 to −10.001:54
  5. 27...Ne2Black wins after 27 moves2:06

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2751) vs Dariusz Swiercz (2655)

Sinquefield Cup 2021, 21 August 2021 · White won (1-0) · 47 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 5...O-OThe first move after the opening line2:34
  2. 30...Rd3The evaluation moves from +1.72 to +4.054:28
  3. 32.Rxf4The queens come off4:35
  4. 37.Rxc3White stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:00
  5. 42...Re8The evaluation moves from +4.91 to +7.285:28
  6. 46...Kg8The evaluation moves from +7.30 to mate in 5 for White5:48
  7. 47.f6White wins after 47 moves5:50

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

With 4.c3 and 5.d3 White gives up an early d4 and builds slowly: castling, Re1, Nbd2 and often a4 or a later d4 once the pieces are ready. Black can mirror this with ...d6 and ...a6, keeping the bishop on a7, or free the game at once with ...d5. The centre stays closed or semi-open for a long time, and the play turns on piece manoeuvres and a well-timed pawn break.

Topalov–So went 5...a6 6.a4 d6 7.Bg5, and Black broke the pin with 8...h6 and 9...g5, then played 12...h5. When White opened the centre with 13.d4, Black answered 14...g4, and 15.hxg4 dropped the score from +1.84 to +0.23, opening the h-file for Black. After 19.a5 Black stayed more than two pawns ahead, and 19...f5 hit e5; at 20.exf6 the score was −2.47. White's 25.Rxc8 allowed 25...Bxf2+ and went from −5.16 to −10.00, and 27.Kh3 allowed mate in 5. Black won after 27...Ne2.

Vachier-Lagrave–Swiercz took the freeing route, 5...O-O 6.O-O d5, and White pressed with 8.Re1 and the knight route Nbd2-e4-g3. White's 16.d4 opened the centre, and the score stayed near +0.40 until 30...Rd3 raised it from +1.72 to +4.05. White exchanged queens with 31.Qxf4 and 32.Rxf4, and after 37.Rxc3 stayed more than two pawns ahead in a double-rook ending. The f-pawn advanced, 42...Re8 took the score to +7.28, and White won after 47.f6. Unlike Game 1, Black never attacked the king, and the result came from the endgame.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Topalov vs So, London Chess Classic 2016
  3. 2:15Game 2: Vachier-Lagrave vs Swiercz, Sinquefield Cup 2021

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3

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