Step 7: Starting Well · about 25 min
A Plan for White: the Italian Game
Goal: Kids can play the Italian Game: e4, Nf3, Bc4, castle, then c3 and d3 or d4.
You need: Demo board · One board and set per pair · Optional: the plan written on a card
1 · Teach it (15 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“Now we put the rules together into a plan for White. It's called the Italian Game, and strong players still use it. Move 1: e4 takes the center.”
2.“Move 2: knight to f3. It develops and attacks e5. Black usually defends with the knight on c6. Move 3: bishop to c4. It aims at f7, the weak square.”
3.“Next: castle to keep the king safe. Then play c3 and d4 to build a big center, or d3 for a calm game. Then the rook comes to e1.”
4.“Write the plan on a card: e4, Nf3, Bc4, castle, c3, d3 or d4, Re1. If Black does something strange, go back to the rules: center, develop, castle.”
👉 Write the plan on the board for kids to copy.
- Playing Ng5 early to attack f7 when the attack doesn't work.
- Forgetting to castle because the plan 'didn't say when'.
2 · Play it: Plan Practice (10 min)
Set up: In pairs, both players have the plan card.
- White plays the Italian Game plan. Black plays e5, Nc6, Bc5 or Nf6, and castles.
- Stop after 8 moves each. Did White follow the plan? Did both kings castle?
- Swap colors and play again, then finish a game.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 7 → White's Plan. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S7-L5-WN.
🏠 Practice at home: older kids can drill the Italian Game in OpeningLab, our free sister site (works offline too).
Practice (3) with answers
1.Italian Game, move 2: develop and attack e5. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Nf3
2.Italian Game, move 3: aim a bishop at f7. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bc4
3.Black copied you. Play the next move of the plan. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: O-O or c3 or d3
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Black's knight attacks your e4 pawn. Protect it and keep developing. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: d3 or Nc3
2.You played c3. What's the next pawn move in the plan? Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: d4 or d3
3.In the Italian Game, which square does White's bishop on c4 aim at?
- ✓f7
- h7
- a6
Topic order based on: How to Win at Chess, ch. 8 (opening traps, a first repertoire); Fundamental Chess Openings (move orders only). All wording is original.