The Two Knights Defence arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 - instead of symmetry, Black attacks the e4 pawn at once. It is one of the most combative replies in the Italian. All the main branches are gathered here: the attack on f7 with the Polerio Variation, the Fegatello and Lolli attacks, the Ulvestad and Fritz variations, plus the quiet routes 4.d4 and 4.d3 and the transposition to the Four Knights. At each branching point, choose a line.
The dimmed moves are the rest of the main line, and the dots mark branching points. Click any move to jump to that position.
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The starting position. Choose your moves - at a branching point several continuations are available.
The Two Knights Defence arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6. Instead of the symmetrical 3...Bc5, Black attacks the e4 pawn at once and invites sharp play. One of the most combative replies in the open games.
The main drama is around f7. With 4.Ng5 White attacks f7 directly, defended by the king alone, and forces Black into a pawn sacrifice. An opening for those who do not fear complications and like playing for the initiative.
If White does not want to force matters, he chooses the quiet 4.d3 (as in the modern Italian) or transposes to a Four Knights with 4.Nc3. The struggle then becomes quieter and more positional.
After 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Black has a choice. The main and most reliable route is 5...Na5 (the Polerio Variation): Black gives up a pawn but gains a lead in development and the initiative. There are also the sharper 5...b5 (Ulvestad) and 5...Nd4 (Fritz).
The tempting 5...Nxd5?!, on the other hand, is risky: after 6.Nxf7! (the Fegatello Attack, the Fried Liver) or 6.d4 (the Lolli Attack) White sacrifices a piece and crashes through against the king stuck in the centre. So recapturing on d5 with the knight is not recommended.
The Two Knights is the most combative answer in the Italian: instead of the quiet 3...Bc5, Black plays 3...Nf6, attacking e4 at once and inviting 4.Ng5 with the blow against f7.
The key position arises after 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, and everything hinges on knowing one move: 5...Nxd5?! fails to 6.Nxf7! Kxf7 7.Qf3+ with a crushing attack - the Fried Liver itself. The correct move is 5...Na5, giving up a pawn for development and the bishop pair.
Sharper still is the Traxler, 4...Bc5!? - Black ignores the threat to f7 altogether and goes in for mutual sacrifices. The position is wild, but in fast games it is a formidable weapon.
There are two approaches. The critical one is 4.Ng5, attacking f7. If Black does not know 5...Na5, the game is often over at once; if he does, White has an extra pawn but Black gets the initiative and the bishop pair for it.
The positional route is 4.d4 or 4.d3. After 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 the game opens up with fast development, while 4.d3 leads to the quietest Italian, where White regroups calmly with no theory around f7 at all.
A practical consideration: 4.Ng5 wins games against the unprepared and achieves almost nothing against the prepared. Against a strong opponent, 4.d3 is the safer choice.
The typical set-ups this opening leads to - learn them, and the plan follows by itself.
Black has given up a pawn but gained tempi, chased White's pieces around and seized space in the centre. The opening's typical picture: material for the initiative.
These are the main named variations. Click any one of them and it loads straight onto the board above, where you can play it out move by move. The trainer itself holds more lines than this: it also covers main-line continuations and transpositions that have no name of their own.
What to avoid, and what catches an unprepared opponent.
Recapturing with the knight instead of 5...Na5 allows the famous sacrifice: Black's king is dragged out to e6 and left without castling. The full guide is in the article on traps.
White tries to keep the material and falls behind in development. In this opening the pawn usually has to be given back - the only question is on what terms.
Traps in other openings - the 12 most common opening traps.
It is the Fegatello Attack: after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5?! 6.Nxf7! White sacrifices a knight and crashes through against the king. That is why 5...Na5 is played instead of 5...Nxd5.
Yes, entirely. In the main Polerio Variation (5...Na5) Black gives up a pawn but gets active piece play and enough compensation. A respected, time-tested weapon against the Italian bishop.
In the Giuoco Piano (3...Bc5) Black plays quietly and symmetrically, while in the Two Knights (3...Nf6) he attacks e4 at once and invites complications. The more combative, tactical choice.
Very simply: after 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5, do not recapture with the knight (5...Nxd5?!) but play the main move 5...Na5. Then there is no sacrifice on f7 and Black has a normal position with the initiative for a pawn.
Want the tactics that decide these positions? Start with the 12 most common opening traps and tactics for beginners. If you are just starting out, read the rules of chess and how to set up the board.
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