Don Chess

Learn the Fried Liver Attack

The most famous attack for beginners: knight to f7 and Black’s king has to come out into the open. Anyone who doesn’t know the defence gets mated fast.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The 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

C57 · Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  3. 2.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  4. 2…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  5. 3.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.
  6. 3…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  7. 4.Ng5 Brings the knight to a better square (g5).
  8. 4…d5 Attacks the pawn on e4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  9. 5.exd5 Takes the pawn on d5.
  10. 5…Nxd5 Takes back on d5 – material is level again.
  11. 6.Nxf7 Takes the pawn on f7.
  12. 6…Kxf7 Takes back on f7 – material is level again.
  13. 7.Qf3+ Check! The opponent has to react at once.
  14. 7…Ke6 Brings the king to a better square (e6).
  15. 8.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.

Idea and plans

The idea

3…Nf6 attacks e4 and invites 4.Ng5, hitting f7 – one of the sharpest answers to the Italian Game.

Plan for White

After 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 keep up the pressure; calmer is 4.d3 with a slow build-up.

Plan for Black

After 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 the main line is 5…Na5: a pawn for fast development.

Tip

After 5…Nxd5?! the Fried Liver sacrifice 6.Nxf7! attacks the king.

The 4 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

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More openings