The Giuoco is often viewed as a beginners' opening, but it is very heavily analysed, and full of traps for the unwary. In practice, I do not meet it very often, and players who respond with ...e5 are probably expecting the Ruy Lopez, which is seen frequently in master play. My opponent clearly had not met the particular variation I played, and soon went wrong. The opening moves are as follows:-

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ The game continued 7. Kf1 Now the normal continuation would be 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O when Black can play either N or B xc3. Of course there are lots of possibilities after that. So what person in their right mind gives up the right to castle and blocks in their king's rook with 7. Kf1 (The Cracow Variation)? It appears that the former US Champion Frank Marshall was prepared to play it, and with some success. Chess data-bases will reveal an interesting game Marshall v Burn played in Ostend in 1905. 7... Nxe4 and now the fun began with 8. d5 Na5 Black should have played 8... Ne7 9. Qd4 Nd6 10. Bd3 exposing Black's forlorn Bishop 10... c5 11. dxc6 Nxc6 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Bh6 Qe7 The immediate exchange advantage is available, but the position is much better 14. Nbd2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 f6 16. Re1 Ne5 But there is no escape! 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 18. f4 Rf7 19. fxe5 fxe5+ 20. Ke2 b6 21. Kd1 Bb7 22. Rxe5+ Kd8 23. Re2 Kc7 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 Rf6 26. Be3 Raf8 27. Rhe1 Rg6 28. Rf2 Rxf2 29. Bxf2 Rxg2 30. Bg3+ Kc6 31. Kc1 protecting b2 but also trapping the Black Rook 31... h5 32. Bf1 Black Resigns. After 32... Rg1 White plays 33. Bb5+ and will emerge a full Rook ahead. 1-0 [Mike Dow]