Riven & Slowpoke
Hey Slowpoke, I’ve been mapping out the Italian Game lately—wonder how you’d handle the 3.Nc3 variation if you had all the time in the world?
Hey, that’s a nice line to explore. With 3.Nc3 you’re keeping things flexible, so you could pause and think about a few different plans. One idea is to play a4 right away, stopping ...b5 and freeing the way for a5 if you want to create a pawn chain on the queenside. Another is to support the b4 push with a3, so you can later get a pawn up on b4 to cramp Black’s pieces. If you’re looking to keep the game calm, maybe just stay in the center for a bit, develop your bishop to c4, and watch where Black’s pawns move. Take your time, feel the position, and then decide which idea fits best.