Chess opening · ECO C57
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack
With 4.Ng5, White breaks a basic opening guideline and moves the same knight twice to attack f7. The g5 knight and c4 bishop both hit that pawn, and only Black's king defends it. Black usually blocks the bishop with 4...d5. After 5.exd5, Black can recapture on d5 and walk into sharp tactics, or give up a pawn for quick development.
- Rank by weighted share
- #97 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5
- 4. Ng5The knight leaves f3 and lands on g5, adding a second attacker to f7. Taking on e4 with the f6 knight grabs a pawn and hits g5, but leaves f7 open to Bxf7+.
Why 5...Nxd5 invites trouble
After 4...d5 5.exd5, retaking with the knight lets White play 6.Nxf7, giving up a knight to drag the black king forward. After 6...Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 the king stands in the center, the d5 knight is pinned to it by the c4 bishop, and White brings more pieces. This is the Fried Liver idea, and Black can meet 5.exd5 with something else to stay out of it.
The ...Na5 pawn sacrifice
The main alternative is 5...Na5, hitting the c4 bishop. After 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6, Black is a pawn down but gains time chasing White's minor pieces. The g5 knight and b5 bishop both have to retreat, and Black's ...h6 and ...e4 drive the knight from g5 to f3 and then on to e5.
The cost is a knight on a5, away from the center, and a split queenside. Black plays for open lines and quick development instead of the pawn.
Gaining time after 5...Na5
4... d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5
Black's pawns chase the knight from g5 to f3 and then to e5. White has an extra pawn, while Black has a pawn on e4 that gains space and a half-open b-file for a rook.
Top replies by rating
d5 leads every band through 1999 by a wide margin. Qe7 is second under 1200, Bc5, the Traxler, is second from 1200 to 1999, and Nxe4 is third from 1400 to 1999.
Questions
Does 4.Ng5 break the rule about moving a piece twice?
It does, and that is why Black gets counterplay. White spends a tempo on a direct threat, so if Black handles f7 with ...d5 and then gains time on the knight and bishop, the lost moves start to show.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.