Two Knights: the Fried Liver trap: moves, ideas and plans

A sharp attacking line. If Black recaptures on d5 with the knight, White can sacrifice on f7 and hunt the king into the open.

C57Play it as WhiteBeginner15 moves

Main line: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3

Key ideas

• Ng5 targets f7 twice with knight and bishop.
• After ...Nxd5 the f7 knight sacrifice drags the king out.
• Against the correct 5...Na5 White must play more calmly.

The Two Knights: the Fried Liver trap move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as C57 Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack.

1. 1. e4Opens the centre.
2. 1… e5Symmetrical reply.
3. 2. Nf3Attacks e5.
4. 2… Nc6Defends it.
5. 3. Bc4Aims at f7.
6. 3… Nf6The Two Knights Defence: Black counter-attacks e4 instead of copying with ...Bc5.
7. 4. Ng5Attacks f7 a second time. Only the king defends it.
8. 4… d5The best answer: Black blocks the bishop's diagonal and counter-attacks.
9. 5. exd5White takes, and the bishop's line to f7 is still closed.
10. 5… Nxd5A natural recapture — and the mistake. The knight on d5 will be pinned and overloaded. 5...Na5 is correct.
11. 6. Nxf7The Fried Liver: a knight sacrifice that pulls the king out.
12. 6… Kxf7Black accepts; declining leaves the rook and queen forked.
13. 7. Qf3+Check, and the queen joins the attack on the pinned d5 knight.
14. 7… Ke6The main reply, keeping the d5 knight protected. But the king now stands in the middle of the board.
15. 8. Nc3More pressure on d5. White threatens to win it with a strong attack for the piece.

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