ECO code: C57
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack
The Fried Liver Attack arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7.
Characteristic: This aggressive knight sacrifice on f7 is the hallmark of the Fried Liver Attack. White sacrifices material early to expose Black’s king and launch a direct assault on the vulnerable f7-square, aiming to disrupt Black’s ability to castle and gain a lead in development.
Playing Style: For White, this is a highly attacking line, seeking immediate initiative and tactical chances. Black must respond carefully to defend against the swift onslaught. If Black accepts the sacrifice, the game becomes very sharp and tactical.
Center Control: The Fried Liver Attack indirectly contests the center by provoking exchanges and forcing Black’s pieces off their natural squares, but the main focus is on tactical pressure rather than traditional central pawn control.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 14 - Move #8 white