Answers.Body: <p>The game will get the characteristics of the Philidor Defense rather than the Italian Game. Wikipedia calls it the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Italian_Opening" rel="noreferrer">Semi-Italian Opening</a>.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>I. A. Horowitz called the defence "solid", also writing: "It does not seem quite sufficient for equality."</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The Wikipedia article notes several possible continuations for White, with 4. d4 probably the best bet for advantage.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-18T15:44:01.503Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-05-18T15:44:01.503Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Glorfindel
Answers.Body: <p>1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6:</p>
  
  <p>365chess.com database shows:</p>
  
  <pre><code>MOVE   | games | year |  White +  Draw  + Black
  -------+-------+------+--------+--------+-------
  4. d4  |  491  | 2018 | 50.3 % | 24.4 % | 25.3 %
  4. c3  |  359  | 2018 | 53.5 % | 20.6 % | 25.9 %
  4. d3  |  357  | 2018 | 45.4 % | 22.7 % | 31.9 %
  4. h3  |  323  | 2016 | 42.7 % | 25.7 % | 31.6 %
  4. Nc3 |  289  | 2018 | 50.9 % | 16.3 % | 32.9 %
  4. O-O |  249  | 2019 | 50.6 % | 22.1 % | 27.3 %
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>White will get a space advantage and freer development after d4 (whether delayed or played immediately).  Or White can play the pawn to d3 and the fact that his Bishop is outside the pawn chain (and Blacks Bf8 is inside) gives White an easier position.</p>
  
  <p>There is no knock-out blow for White as Black is accepting a slightly passive but solid position.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-23T21:50:56.303Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-05-23T22:12:48.943Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-05-23T22:12:48.943Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ywapom
Answers.Body: <p>There is no way to "crush" that move. You just play! Develop your pieces, get space in the center and obtain a small advantage. Your opponent won't be losing a piece or something like that.</p>
  
  <p>I assume 3...d6 may have some ideas related to a pin on g4 (for instance, 4.d4 Bg4) A c3 pawn advance can be useful to prevent some ...Nd4. I think you'll be fine after 4.0-0 Bg4 5.c3, but also 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 or many other sequences</p>
  
  <p>In short, I don't know what the best answer is. I doubt anyone in the world actually does. Analyze your games and find what works best for yourself</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-25T07:35:46.427Z
Answers.Text: Then, why only beginners play it?
Answers.UserDisplayName: A. N. Other
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-26T22:14:34.233Z
Answers.Text: "Only" beginners play it, because it is not ambitious and White has many different ways of staying "slightly better". In other words, no kind of trouble is created by Black. If there was a way to completely smash it, not even beginners would play it. Also, experienced players who like that type of schemes may prefer 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
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Answers.Text: I am not saying that there must be a way to "completely smash it", but of at least obtaining a reasonable advantage out of the opening. If instead the move is unambitious, but perfectly playable, as you seem to suggest (and you may be perfectly right, of course), I was wondering why it is not more popular among strong players, at least to avoid the main theoretical lines. I hope you get my point. Move is playable, yet it is extremely unpopular.
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Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-05-27T15:31:16.840Z
Answers.Text: I think players who want to play that type of position will prefer .e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6. Also, it's not really avoiding any theory, since the position that will be reached will be very similar to other well known openings and may even lead to transpositions (with the advantage for White of having more flexibility)
Answers.UserDisplayName: David
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Answers.UserDisplayName: David
Body: <p>As title above, how to play vs. </p>
  
  <pre><code>[fen ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I see that this move (3...d6) is generally considered inferior in books, or not even mentioned in books about 3.Bc4, but I cannot see a clear way to obtain advantage. </p>
  
Tags: <opening><1.e4><italian-game><open-games>
Title: How to play vs. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6?
ThreadText: # How to play vs. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-18)
  
  As title above, how to play vs.
  
  ```
  [fen ""]
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 
  
  ```
  
  I see that this move (3...d6) is generally considered inferior in books, or not even mentioned in books about 3.Bc4, but I cannot see a clear way to obtain advantage.
  
  **Tags:** opening, 1.e4, italian-game, open-games
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-05-18. Score: 9
  
  The game will get the characteristics of the Philidor Defense rather than the Italian Game. Wikipedia calls it the [Semi-Italian Opening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-Italian_Opening).
  
  > I. A. Horowitz called the defence "solid", also writing: "It does not seem quite sufficient for equality."
  
  The Wikipedia article notes several possible continuations for White, with 4. d4 probably the best bet for advantage.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-05-23. Score: 9
  
  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6:
  
  365chess.com database shows:
  
  ```
  MOVE   | games | year |  White +  Draw  + Black
  -------+-------+------+--------+--------+-------
  4. d4  |  491  | 2018 | 50.3 % | 24.4 % | 25.3 %
  4. c3  |  359  | 2018 | 53.5 % | 20.6 % | 25.9 %
  4. d3  |  357  | 2018 | 45.4 % | 22.7 % | 31.9 %
  4. h3  |  323  | 2016 | 42.7 % | 25.7 % | 31.6 %
  4. Nc3 |  289  | 2018 | 50.9 % | 16.3 % | 32.9 %
  4. O-O |  249  | 2019 | 50.6 % | 22.1 % | 27.3 %
  
  ```
  
  White will get a space advantage and freer development after d4 (whether delayed or played immediately). Or White can play the pawn to d3 and the fact that his Bishop is outside the pawn chain (and Blacks Bf8 is inside) gives White an easier position.
  
  There is no knock-out blow for White as Black is accepting a slightly passive but solid position.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2019-05-24. Score: 3
  
  There is no way to "crush" that move. You just play! Develop your pieces, get space in the center and obtain a small advantage. Your opponent won't be losing a piece or something like that.
  
  I assume 3...d6 may have some ideas related to a pin on g4 (for instance, 4.d4 Bg4) A c3 pawn advance can be useful to prevent some ...Nd4. I think you'll be fine after 4.0-0 Bg4 5.c3, but also 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.h3 or many username_0 sequences
  
  In short, I don't know what the best answer is. I doubt anyone in the world actually does. Analyze your games and find what works best for yourself
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Then, why only beginners play it?  
  > **username_3**: "Only" beginners play it, because it is not ambitious and White has many different ways of staying "slightly better". In username_0 words, no kind of trouble is created by Black. If there was a way to completely smash it, not even beginners would play it. Also, experienced players who like that type of schemes may prefer 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6  
  > **username_0**: I am not saying that there must be a way to "completely smash it", but of at least obtaining a reasonable advantage out of the opening. If instead the move is unambitious, but perfectly playable, as you seem to suggest (and you may be perfectly right, of course), I was wondering why it is not more popular among strong players, at least to avoid the main theoretical lines. I hope you get my point. Move is playable, yet it is extremely unpopular.  
  > **username_3**: I think players who want to play that type of position will prefer .e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6. Also, it's not really avoiding any theory, since the position that will be reached will be very similar to username_0 well known openings and may even lead to transpositions (with the advantage for White of having more flexibility)  
  
  ---
  
  