Chess Drills
Two Knights Defense: active play and two traps
Against the Italian Game you don't have to copy White's bishop move. Instead you bring out your other knight to f6, and it attacks White's pawn on e4 straight away. This is the Two Knights Defense, an active, fighting choice for Black.
The price: White can attack your f7 square (only your king defends it) at once with the knight to g5. You need to know the answer, either the solid main line or the wild Traxler Counterattack. Against White's calmer moves you get comfortable, active positions.
Good fit for: Black players who want active counterplay against the Italian and are happy to learn a few sharp lines in return.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Attack e4 at once. Your knight on f6 hits White's pawn on e4 straight away. White must defend it, give it up, or start an attack.
- A pawn for quick development. In the main line you give up a pawn. In return your pieces come out fast and you get more space. That is normal: don't try to win the pawn back at any price.
- Don't take back on d5 with the knight. When White's knight goes to g5, you push your pawn to d5 and White takes it. Taking back with your knight lets White sacrifice a piece on f7. Move your knight from c6 to a5 instead.
- Hit back with the pawn to d5. In the open lines, where White pushes the d-pawn to d4, your pawn move to d5 frees your game and attacks White's bishop on c4.
The main lines
Main line: your knight chases the bishop
White's knight jumps to g5 and attacks f7. You block with the pawn to d5, and when White takes it, your knight goes to a5 and attacks the bishop instead of taking back. You end up a pawn down, but White's pieces have been chased around and you have gained a lot of time.
- Your plan: use your extra space, develop easily and castle. Your queen often goes to c7.
- Why a5? The knight attacks the bishop on c4, the piece that aims at f7.
- Good to know: your pawn moves to h6 and e4 chase White's knight away again, so White loses more time.
- Watch out: don't take back on d5 with the knight. See the Fried Liver trap below.
Traxler Counterattack: attack f2 instead
You ignore the threat on f7 and put your bishop on c5, aiming at White's f2. When White's knight takes on f7, you sacrifice the bishop on f2 and later a knight, so you give up two pieces. In return White's king is out in the open and all your pieces join the attack.
- Good to know: this line is wild and heavily analysed. You have to know the moves well.
- Watch out: White has safer tries than taking on f7, such as the bishop taking on f7 with check, or the push d2-d4.
- Your chance: if White grabs your rook in the corner, you have a mate. See the trap below.
White plays calmly: pawn to d3
White protects e4 with a pawn and keeps the game quiet. You develop your bishop to e7, castle and push your pawn to d6. Then your knight goes to a5 to chase White's bishop on c4.
- Why chase the bishop? You either win the bishop pair (both bishops against bishop and knight) or make the bishop retreat.
- Good to know: White usually keeps the bishop by moving it to b5 and then a4.
- Your plan: gain space on the queenside with the pawns to a6, c5 and b5.
- Good to know: this is the line you will meet most often.
Modern Attack: White opens the centre
White pushes the d-pawn to d4, you take it, and White pushes the e-pawn to e5 to chase your knight. You hit back with the pawn to d5, and your knight jumps to a strong square on e4. White wins the pawn back, and you are ready to develop and castle.
- Your plan: bishop to d7, then bishop to c5 and castle.
- Good to know: if White takes your knight on c6, take back with the bishop. Your pieces stay active.
- Good to know: the same position can come from the Scotch Gambit.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
The Fried Liver Attack: don't take back with the knight
This is the most famous mistake in this opening. After White's knight goes to g5 and you push to d5, taking back on d5 with your knight looks natural but is bad. White sacrifices the knight on f7, checks with the queen from f3, and your king has to walk to e6. Your king is stuck in the centre, your knight on d5 is pinned (it can't move without exposing your king to the bishop on c4), and White's attack is very strong. Avoid it by moving your knight to a5.
The Traxler: White must not grab your rook
This is a trap for White, so it is your chance. In the Traxler, after your knight takes on e4 with check and your queen comes to h4, you threaten mate on f2. White has to defend, usually with the pawn to g3. If White greedily takes your rook on h8 with the knight, your queen goes to f2 and it is mate.
Questions
Is the Two Knights Defense sound?
Yes. In the main line with your knight to a5 you are a pawn down, but you get good compensation (something in return, here time and space). Strong players have played it for a very long time. The Traxler is much riskier.
Two Knights or the bishop to c5?
The bishop to c5 leads to the Giuoco Piano, which is calmer. The knight to f6 is more active, but you have to know what to do when White's knight goes to g5. If you like counterplay, choose the Two Knights.
What should I learn first?
The answer to White's knight jump to g5: push your pawn to d5, and after White takes it, move your knight to a5. That is where Black can lose quickly. After that, learn the line with White's pawn to d3, because you will meet it most often.
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