ECO C57 · Italian Game

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. Nxf7+1.01

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack (C57), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nxf7 for White. White is clearly better (+1.01).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.015. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kf1 Qe7 7. Nxh8 Bb6 8. Nc3 Qc5 9. Bf7+ Kf8
  2. +0.905. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bd5 d6 7. c3 Qe8 8. d4 exd4 9. Bxc6 bxc6
  3. +0.455. d4 d5 6. Bxd5 Nxd4 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. c3 h6 9. cxd4 hxg5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nxf7 for White, continuing Bxf2+ 6. Kf1 Qe7 7. Nxh8 Bb6 8. Nc3 Qc5 9. Bf7+ Kf8. White is clearly better (+1.01). The next best moves are 5. Bxf7+ (+0.90) and 5. d4 (+0.45).
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.01: white is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack?
C57. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).