The Ponziani Opening is a King’s Pawn Opening which begins with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
Instead of developing a piece, white decides to make an immediate grab for central space in the Ponziani Opening by playing 3. c3. White intends to follow up with d2-d4, recapturing with the c-pawn if black takes on d4.
Against an unprepared opponent, this plan can be quite effective. For instance, let’s consider the continuation 3…d6 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4:
White obtains complete control of the center, and stands clearly better.
There are, however, downsides of playing the move c2-c3 so early. The biggest downside is that this move deprives the queenside knight of its best square! If black can exploit this weakness, black could achieve a perfectly find position against the Ponziani. Black has two main options that achieve this aim: 3…Nf6 and 3…d5
3…Nf6
This move places the e4-pawn under immediate attack. White is unable to defend it with the knight, so white must look for another option.
Playing 4. d3?! to defend this pawn would be quite passive. Play would resemble some of the more quiet lines of the Italian, with pawns on d3 and c3, except that white’s light-squared bishop hasn’t even developed yet. This isn’t what a Ponziani Opening player is looking for!
Instead, white should charge ahead with 4. d4, carrying out the idea that their previous move committed them to. Black can capture on e4 or d4…but whichever capture they choose, the other white pawn will advance.
For example, 4…Nxe4 5. d5!
White drives the knight away before recapturing the pawn on e5. After 5…Ne7 6. Nxe5, black will often play 6…Ng6 to get the knight out of the way of his other pieces.
7. Qd4 is covered in the video above – black is fine, and the position is roughly equal. White can also try 7. Nxg6 to double black’s pawns, but black’s rook gains a semi-open file after 7…hxg6.
Likewise, after 4…exd4, white plays 5. e5!
Recapturing the d4 pawn immediately was not advisable, as the e4-pawn would still be hanging. This in-between move attacks the f6 knight and ensures that white will be able to win the pawn back next turn.
After 5…Nd5 6. cxd4, white does have a full pawn center for now, but black will be able to develop harmoniously and begin to tear it down. The main line goes 6…Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 d6
This move opens up black’s other bishop and creates pawn tension against white’s big center. Black is considered to be fine in this position.
3…d5
This central pawn thrust also exploits the downsides of white’s 3rd move.
Often, playing …d5 so early has a significant downside – white can take on d5, and after black recaptures with the queen, white gains a tempo by playing Nc3, harassing the queen and making a natural developing move in the process. Of course, after white has committed to playing 3. c3, black need not fear any such outcome!
After 3…d5, white’s most popular response is the tricky 4. Qa4
This move pins the c6 knight to the king and therefore threatens to win the e5 pawn, and it’s surprisingly difficult for black to find a developing move that defends it.
4…Bd6? Is no good due to 5. exd5 – the queen has been cut off from defending this pawn!
4…Bd7!?, breaking the pin, also allows 5. exd5. Black can play this line as a gambit, intending 5…Nd4 with a discovered attack, as covered in the video above.
4…exd4 5. Nxe5 is not considered good for black. White has a lot of pressure on the pinned c6 knight, and Bb5 may be coming as well.
4…f6! is surprisingly not as bad as it looks, and it considered the main move. After 5. Bb5 Ne7:
Black has everything under control, and retains a large chunk of central space
Conclusion
The Ponziani Opening is certainly fun to play with white – it’s possible to get a big space advantage if black misplays the opening! Black should play 3…d5 or 3…Nf6 to exploit the downsides of white’s third move, when black achieves a fine position.
Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to sign up in the box below – I’ll send you a free “Move by Move Guide to Chess Thinking” and make sure you never miss new content.
Blake
