Riven & Slowpoke
Riven Riven
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?
Slowpoke Slowpoke
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.