Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack
Greco's Attack is 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3, where White blocks the check with the knight and leaves e4 hanging. White offers material for fast development and a d5 push, while Black can grab e4 and must then survive the open e-file.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3
- ECO
- C54
- Engine
- −0.32 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,072 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 7...Nxe4 castle at once and push d5 to chase the c3 bishop and open the e-file.
- Use Re1 and Rxe4 to pin and win back the knight while the black king is still on e8.
- Against 7...O-O, play Bg5 to pin the f6 knight and castle, keeping a strong center.
- After ...Bxc3+ bxc3 Nxe4, push d5 and centralize the queen on d4 to hit g7.
Black
- Take with 7...Nxe4: after O-O and ...Bxc3, play ...Bf6 so the bishop survives and guards g7.
- Return the extra knight with ...Ne7 at the right moment to finish development and castle.
- 7...O-O is the calm option, accepting a pin with Bg5 and an even position.
- Do not delay castling too long once the e-file is open, since Re1 pins the e4 knight.
Plans and pawn structure
After 7...Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1 Ne7 11.Rxe4 the material is level but the game is very open. White has the d5 pawn wedged into Black's camp and rooks ready for the e-file. Black has the bishop pair and wants ...O-O, ...d6 and ...Ng6 to stabilize. If Black plays quietly with ...O-O instead, the center stays intact and White plays Bg5, castles and keeps a space edge.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.32: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.32 7...Nxe4 8.O-O Bxc3 9.d5 Bf6 10.Re1
- +0.48 7...O-O 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.O-O
- +0.49 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.d5 Ne7 10.Qd4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,072 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Giuoco Piano, Therkatz-Herzog Variation7...Nxe4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, take on e4 with the knight only if you know the follow-up ...Bf6 and ...Ne7. Otherwise 7...O-O is a safe and steady choice. Avoid leaving the king in the center after Re1: castle as soon as the pins are gone.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack?
The Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3. Its ECO code is C54.
Is the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.32 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 1,072 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.1%. An attacking line for White players who like open games, while Black needs to know the accurate defense after ...Nxe4.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Giuoco Piano, Greco's Attack?
White blocks the check with Nc3 and offers e4 for fast development. After ...Nxe4, O-O and d5 open lines against Black's king, and Black must use ...Bf6 and ...Ne7 to stay safe.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nxe4, with O-O and Bxc3+ close behind. 7...Nxe4 grabs the center pawn, and after O-O and ...Bxc3 Black keeps the bishop with ...Bf6.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.