Ideas on the Fried Liver Attack

A beginner Open Game Player runs into the Fried Liver Attack quite often. When one first begins playing the Two Knights, one gets some painful lessons from the experienced Fried Liver Player.

When once first experiences the moves

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5

he may answer with the correct 4... d5 and is offered what looks like a free pawn with 5.exd5

Upon playing the natural 5....Nxd5 (after all the Knight is protected by the queen) he is surprised by the seemingly bizarre sacrifice 6. Nxf7.

After the forced take Kxf7 (otherwise we lose material),he is met with Queen f3 check. A novice's intial impression is often to hide in the false safety of the back row and is met with an overwhelming attack.

Here is a complete game showing this:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1225160

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1225863

After coming up against this one a number of time one calculates the better move. Marching the King to guard the threatened Knight after the check with K e6. Wins by white are hard work but most likely there.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1227666

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1043941

White plays must play carefully calculating for the kill or this may happen

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1227614

White can also remove some of the risk by playing the Lolli Attack which is a type of delayed Fried Liver. White plays d4 and castles before NXf7! Fischer played it in these simuls

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1301662

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1255153

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1255224

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1255151

Black does have some sharp ideas if white lingers

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1225343

Morphy entered this from a Scotch Gambit position

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1224558

A modern response is the strange looking 5 Ne5

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1225713

of course all this silliness can be avoided by black not taking Nxd5 but playing Na5 or earlier playing 4 Bc5 the Traxler Counterattack

Sat-tuesday 0 tactics

Wed 20 tactic ctfb