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Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, 5.d3 d6 6.O-O — Part 1 of 2

Kramnik–Carlsen, Norway Chess 2017 · Firouzja–Gukesh, Norway Chess 2023 · 6:18 · ECO C54

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In this video

Game 1: Vladimir Kramnik (2808) vs Magnus Carlsen (2832)

Norway Chess 2017, 14 June 2017 · White won (1-0) · 40 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. 6...a6The first move after the opening line0:30
  2. 25...Qxf2+The evaluation moves from +0.05 to +1.451:56
  3. 27...Nh4White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:06
  4. 31.Bf6The evaluation moves from +3.40 to +5.092:24
  5. 37...Rxf4The queens come off2:56
  6. 38.d6The evaluation moves from +4.54 to +6.102:59
  7. 40.Kg1White wins after 40 moves3:09

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Alireza Firouzja (2785) vs Gukesh D (2732)

Norway Chess 2023, 30 May 2023 · Black won (0-1) · 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. 6...h6The first move after the opening line3:39
  2. 31.Rd1The evaluation moves from −1.96 to −3.34, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:32
  3. 34.Qe4The evaluation moves from −5.54 to −7.575:48
  4. 35...Rxg2+The evaluation moves from −7.63 to −5.675:55
  5. 37...Qd2+Black wins after 37 moves6:05

Evaluation

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

About these games

White's c3 and d3 keep the centre closed and prepare a later d4, while Black's ...d6 supports the e5-pawn and keeps the bishop on c5 aimed at f2. After 6.O-O both sides manoeuvre slowly, with knight routes such as Nbd2-f1-g3 for White, and the game turns on who strikes first in the centre: White with d4, or Black with ...d5.

Kramnik–Carlsen began 6...a6 7.Re1 Ba7 8.a4, with Black keeping the bishop out of reach of a later d4. White played 10.d4 only after preparation, and after 14...exd4 15.cxd4 c5 16.d5 White had extra space (+0.69). The score was −0.02 at 21.b4, but 23.Bxh6 and 24.Bxg7 opened the black king at the cost of the c2-bishop, and the evaluation was +1.04 at 26.Kh2. From 27...Nh4 White stayed more than two pawns ahead, and 31.Bf6 raised the score from +3.40 to +5.09. The queens came off with 37...Rxf4, 38.d6 took the evaluation from +4.54 to +6.10, and White won after 40.Kg1.

Firouzja–Gukesh reached the line through 4.d3 and 6.c3. Black chose 6...h6 and pushed the a-pawn to a3, gaining queenside space. While White spent moves on Nbd2-f1-g3, Black played 15...d5, a central break, whereas in Game 1 White was the side to push in the centre. The game stayed level (−0.11 at 26.cxb4), but 29.Rb1 moved the score from −0.93 to −2.13 and 31.Rd1 from −1.96 to −3.34. Black's rooks then reached f2 and g2. After 34.Qe4 the score went from −5.54 to −7.57, and Black won after 37...Qd2+.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Kramnik vs Carlsen, Norway Chess 2017
  3. 3:18Game 2: Firouzja vs Gukesh, Norway Chess 2023

The opening line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O

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