Answers.Body: <p>Not the line you mentioned (Be7 instead of Bc5) but in this game Be6 came a bit later and the answer was Nd5.</p>
  <pre><code>[fen &quot;&quot;]
  [Startply &quot;24&quot;]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2 c5 9. c3 Nc6 10. Na3 h6 11. Nc2 a6 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Nd5
  </code></pre>
  <p>Within a few moves both pieces were traded and white was left with a pawn on d5.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-05-17T15:46:42.493Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-05-17T15:46:42.493Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Connor McStatham
Answers.Body: <p>You are quite right to be puzzled, because there is no general answer, but to say that &quot;it all depends on the position&quot; does not help you very much.
  Let me just comment on some of your remarks.</p>
  <p>If the WB retreats to b3, and Black captures, there can be drawbacks to each recapture, but there can be benefits also. axb3 opens the a-file. Black might have to defend their a-pawn with a6, and then b4 - b5 might start a Q-side initiative. Nxb3 might be start of a dark-square bind if c5 is weak. Qxb3 might form part of an attack on b7 or f7.</p>
  <p>Playing Bc2 looks a bit passive, but would be correct if Black has many pieces left but not enough space for them. Perhaps, since you have already played c3, you can follow with d4, and the Be6 might get into trouble.</p>
  <p>Playing Bxe6 certainly has the drawbacks that you mention, but only if Black has time to take advantage of them. If White is able to play a quick d4, then they threaten dxe5. After ..dxe5, Black would have isolated doubled Pawns. If Black plays ..exd4 to avoid this, then after Nxd4 or Qxd4 White may have a strongly centralised piece.</p>
  <p>There is potential here for a very long answer, but I think I can offer some short advice. Make yourself aware of all the possible pros and cons. Play through a lot of master games, perhaps including some old ones, and observe the themes that come up frequently. Pay special attention to games in which something that you thought was a rule gets successfully broken.
  In your own games, take the route that seems best suited to the position,
  but also the one that best suits your own style. Do you value sound pawn structures or open lines?</p>
  <p>Remember that decisions can be postponed. It is broadly true that strong players are happy to leave unresolved tensions on the board. They say to themselves &quot;Perhaps I will have to keep on spending time on this, but then, so do they!&quot;</p>
  <p>Take heart that the question you have raised is genuinely difficult, and the fact that it poses problems for both sides is why the Italian game has returned as a serious opening.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-05-16T09:39:10.533Z
Answers.Text: To make it worse, still another option (assuming a Pd3; blundering away the bishop is NO option :-) is doing nothing and waiting for ...Bxc4 dxc4. Doubled c-pawn but half-open d-file and firm control over d5.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2023-05-12T21:08:35.963Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-05-12T21:08:35.963Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Philip Roe
Body: <p>I have been exploring the Italian Game (especially 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3) for a while, and at several points in the opening, I have seen Black play his bishop to e6 to directly counter the White light squared bishop. The move continues to stump me.</p>
  <p>Some sources I've read recommend either retreating Bb3 (depending on when in the opening Be6 is played), tucking the bishop on c2, or taking on e6. I cannot figure out the advantages of either.</p>
  <p>Playing Bb3 seems to allow ...Bxb3, in which white can usually take with the a-pawn, a Knight at d2, or the Queen, all of which seem to throw off White's general plans.</p>
  <p>Playing Bc2 seem to just concede key squares to Black.</p>
  <p>Taking Bxe6 allows fxe6, which seems to give Black a hefty pawn center should Black choose to deploy it.</p>
  <p>If anyone has any insight into the relative value of these moves, I'd be really glad to read it!</p>
  
Tags: <opening><italian-game>
Title: Counter to ...Be6 in the Italian Game?
ThreadText: # Counter to ...Be6 in the Italian Game?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2023-05-12)
  
  I have been exploring the Italian Game (especially 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3) for a while, and at several points in the opening, I have seen Black play his bishop to e6 to directly counter the White light squared bishop. The move continues to stump me.
  
  Some sources I've read recommend either retreating Bb3 (depending on when in the opening Be6 is played), tucking the bishop on c2, or taking on e6. I cannot figure out the advantages of either.
  
  Playing Bb3 seems to allow ...Bxb3, in which white can usually take with the a-pawn, a Knight at d2, or the Queen, all of which seem to throw off White's general plans.
  
  Playing Bc2 seem to just concede key squares to Black.
  
  Taking Bxe6 allows fxe6, which seems to give Black a hefty pawn center should Black choose to deploy it.
  
  If anyone has any insight into the relative value of these moves, I'd be really glad to read it!
  
  **Tags:** opening, italian-game
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2023-05-12. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  You are quite right to be puzzled, because there is no general answer, but to say that "it all depends on the position" does not help you very much.
  Let me just comment on some of your remarks.
  
  If the WB retreats to b3, and Black captures, there can be drawbacks to each recapture, but there can be benefits also. axb3 opens the a-file. Black might have to defend their a-pawn with a6, and then b4 - b5 might start a Q-side initiative. Nxb3 might be start of a dark-square bind if c5 is weak. Qxb3 might form part of an attack on b7 or f7.
  
  Playing Bc2 looks a bit passive, but would be correct if Black has many pieces left but not enough space for them. Perhaps, since you have already played c3, you can follow with d4, and the Be6 might get into trouble.
  
  Playing Bxe6 certainly has the drawbacks that you mention, but only if Black has time to take advantage of them. If White is able to play a quick d4, then they threaten dxe5. After ..dxe5, Black would have isolated doubled Pawns. If Black plays ..exd4 to avoid this, then after Nxd4 or Qxd4 White may have a strongly centralised piece.
  
  There is potential here for a very long answer, but I think I can offer some short advice. Make yourself aware of all the possible pros and cons. Play through a lot of master games, perhaps including some old ones, and observe the themes that come up frequently. Pay special attention to games in which something that you thought was a rule gets successfully broken.
  In your own games, take the route that seems best suited to the position,
  but also the one that best suits your own style. Do you value sound pawn structures or open lines?
  
  Remember that decisions can be postponed. It is broadly true that strong players are happy to leave unresolved tensions on the board. They say to themselves "Perhaps I will have to keep on spending time on this, but then, so do they!"
  
  Take heart that the question you have raised is genuinely difficult, and the fact that it poses problems for both sides is why the Italian game has returned as a serious opening.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: To make it worse, still another option (assuming a Pd3; blundering away the bishop is NO option :-) is doing nothing and waiting for ...Bxc4 dxc4. Doubled c-pawn but half-open d-file and firm control over d5.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2023-05-17. Score: 0
  
  Not the line you mentioned (Be7 instead of Bc5) but in this game Be6 came a bit later and the answer was Nd5.
  [fen ""]
  [Startply "24"]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2 c5 9. c3 Nc6 10. Na3 h6 11. Nc2 a6 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Nd5
  
  Within a few moves both pieces were traded and white was left with a pawn on d5.
  
  
  ---
  
  