The Italian Gambit is an aggressive chess opening that arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 f5. This gambit aims to sacrifice a pawn early in the game to gain rapid development and control of the center. By offering the pawn on f5, White seeks to create attacking chances against Black's position. Players who adopt the Italian Gambit often aim for a quick assault on the king, leveraging the open lines and active pieces. It is a less common choice compared to other openings like the Italian Game or the Evans Gambit, but it can lead to exciting and tactical positions.