Mkubeckek, I play 1400-1500, Maybe up at your level the Italian is passe. Folks are a little more strategic?
I'm not that much higher, after all. I also played against some 1500-1600 rated players in past weeks and watch more games of them and I don't think the picture is too much different. What I find interesting is the contrast against OTB experience where even among players rated ~1500 old FIDE (~1700 new FIDE), Italian is clearly the most common opening and e4 e5 openings prevail by a large margin. Or perhaps it's just local anomally and it's different in other countries? No idea...
