Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening

The Modern Bishop's Opening (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3), also called the Closed Variation of the Two Knights Defense, is White's most common answer to 3...Nf6. Instead of attacking f7 with 4.Ng5 or opening the centre with 4.d4, White calmly defends e4.

Origins

The name comes from the fact that the position is often reached from the Bishop's Opening by 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3. The move became popular in the 1980s, and John Nunn among others has played it.

The idea

With d3 White avoids the tactical battles of the other Two Knights lines and heads for a positional game. If White follows with c3 and brings the bishop back to c2 via b3, the position takes on some features of the Ruy Lopez.

Main lines

• 4...Bc5, the most common reply, transposing to the Giuoco Pianissimo.
• 4...Be7, a position also often reached from the Hungarian Defense when White does not play d4.
• 4...h6, intending ...d6. Black should not play 4...d6 at once because of 5.Ng5, when 5...d5 transposes to the Knight Attack with White having the extra move d3; Black often ends up playing ...g5 or ...g6.
• 4...d5, much less common, a dynamic but risky line.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• A solid, positional set-up without forcing tactical lines.
• With c3 and Bb3–c2 the position can take on features of the Ruy Lopez.

Weaknesses

• White gives up the attempt to attack f7 directly or to open the centre early.
• Black has several good replies, such as 4...Bc5, 4...Be7 and 4...h6.

Who should play it

4.d3 suits White players who like the Italian Game but prefer slow manoeuvring to the sharp lines after 4.Ng5 or 4.d4.

The numbers

On Lichess White leads below 2200: 51.8% against 44.4% under 1400, 51.3% against 44.7% at 1400–1799 and 49.3% against 45.7% at 1800–2199. From 2200 up it is 47.4% against 45.6%. In about 17,800 master games White won 32.0%, Black 23.6%, and 44.4% were drawn.