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

Morozevich–Adams, Karen Asrian Memorial 2008 · Wei–Gukesh, Tata Steel Masters 2024 · 5:44 · ECO C54

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In this video

Game 1: Alexander Morozevich (2774) vs Michael Adams (2729)

Karen Asrian Memorial 2008, 12 June 2008 · White won (1-0) · 37 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. 24...f4The evaluation moves from −0.12 to +3.111:52
  3. 27.Rae1The evaluation moves from +6.01 to +2.222:04
  4. 33...Rd8White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:36
  5. 34...Qf5The evaluation moves from +2.00 to +5.982:42
  6. 37.Kh1White wins after 37 moves2:54

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Wei Yi (2740) vs Gukesh D (2725)

Tata Steel Masters 2024, 14 January 2024 · Black won (0-1) · 33 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...d6The first move after the opening line3:21
  2. 25.Nxc7The evaluation moves from −1.65 to −3.41, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here4:48
  3. 28.dxe7The evaluation moves from −3.52 to −4.935:02
  4. 33.Bd6The evaluation moves from −3.92 to −6.695:28
  5. 33...Qa5Black wins after 33 moves5:30

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 White postpones the d4 break and builds slowly with Nbd2, h3 and often a knight tour to g3. Black usually replies with ...d6 and ...a6 so the c5 bishop can retreat to a7. The structure stays closed, and the fight turns on who times a central break or kingside push better.

Morozevich–Adams went 5...a6 6.Bb3 Ba7 7.h3, and White kept the king in the centre while the knight travelled d2-f1-g3. Black broke with 11...d5, but after the exchanges on e4 White's knights reached g4 and f5. Black took the f5 knight with the bishop, and after 18.exf5 White pushed on with 19.f6, splitting Black's kingside pawns. Black's 24...f4 took the score from −0.12 to +3.11. White's 27.Rae1 let it fall from +6.01 to +2.22, but from 33...Rd8 White stayed more than two pawns ahead, and 34...Qf5 pushed it to +5.98. White won on move 37.

Wei Yi–Gukesh went 5...d6 6.Bg5, and Black broke the pin with ...h6 and ...g5. White castled early, expanded with b4-b5, then played d4 and c4. Black struck back with 21...exd4 and moved the bishop from c5 to a3. White's 25.Nxc7 took the score from −1.65 to −3.41, 28.dxe7 made it −4.93 and 33.Bd6 −6.69. Black won after 33...Qa5. Unlike Game 1, White played in the centre and on the queenside rather than against the king.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Morozevich vs Adams, Karen Asrian Memorial 2008
  3. 3:03Game 2: Wei vs Gukesh, Tata Steel Masters 2024

The opening line

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

See every video from this position →