Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Bc5/4. d3/4...f5

With 4...f5!?, Black unleashes the Lucchini Gambit—an aggressive response to the Giuoco Pianissimo that breaks the symmetry and transforms a quiet line into a tactical battlefield. Named after Italian player Marco Lucchini, this gambit challenges White’s center and seeks rapid development at the cost of material.

After 5. exf5 d5, Black aims to blow open the center while White is still underdeveloped. If 6. Bb5 Ne7!, Black keeps the kingside flexible while preparing Bxf5 or even queenside castling in sharper lines. Even if White declines the pawn with 5. Nc3 or 5. O-O, Black can still build strong initiative with Nf6, d6, and Qe7.

Even sharper is 5. Ng5!?, where the game can explode into tactics. In these lines, Black may sacrifice pieces for open lines and an all-out assault, echoing ideas from the King's Gambit and the Traxler Counterattack.

Though not fully sound, the Lucchini is dangerous and practical—especially against opponents who expect a slow positional game and instead find themselves fighting off a storm.

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 f5

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• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.