Chess Openings Lab
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Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line

The Knight Sacrifice Line of the Traxler is 5.Nxf7, where White's knight forks the queen and h8 rook. Black answers with ...Bxf2+, chasing the king to f1, and gives up the rook for a fierce attack with ...Qe7, ...d5 and ...Nd4.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7
ECO
C57
Engine
+1.25 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,316 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...Bxf2+, step to Kf1; taking the bishop with the king loses to checks.
  • Take on h8 with the knight and push d6 to cut Black's queen off from the attack.
  • Answer ...Qe7 with Nxh8 and then exd5 after ...d5, accepting material over safety.
  • If Black plays ...Nxe4, take the queen with Nxd8 and defend with Qf3 after the bishop checks.

Black

  • Play ...Bxf2+, the engine's top move, to drive the king to f1 and keep the initiative.
  • Follow with ...Qe7 and ...d5; after exd5, ...Nd4 brings another piece into the attack.
  • Add ...Bg4 when possible to hit the queen on d1 and open more lines.
  • Avoid ...Nxe4: Nxd8 wins the queen and the attack does not make up for it.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a race. White's knight takes the rook on h8 and is often trapped there, but White keeps material. White's king sits on f1, so White wants d6 or d3 to block lines, then Nc3 and Qe1 or Qf3 to defend. Black's plan is ...Qe7, ...d5, ...Nd4 and ...Bg4, aiming every piece at White's king. If the attack fizzles, White's extra rook decides; if not, Black mates.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.25: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +1.25 5...Bxf2+ 6.Kf1 Qe7 7.Nxh8 d5 8.exd5
  2. +1.91 5...Qe7 6.Nxh8 d5 7.exd5 Bg4 8.d6
  3. +3.55 5...Nxe4 6.Nxd8 Bxf2+ 7.Kf1 Rf8 8.Nxc6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,316 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.6%.

under 120057.2%
1200–159949.5%
1600–199947.2%
2000 and up40.3%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line5...Bxf2+ · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...Bxf2+ and ...Qe7, then ...d5 and ...Nd4 without hesitation. Do not stop to save the h8 rook, which is lost anyway. Avoid ...Nxe4, which loses the queen after Nxd8. Every move must add an attacker against the king on f1.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7. Its ECO code is C57.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.25 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 1,316 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.6%. A wild line for players on both sides who calculate well, and memorized moves matter more than general ideas.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line?

White's knight wins the h8 rook, but Black checks on f2, sends the king to f1 and attacks with ...Qe7, ...d5 and ...Nd4.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bxf2+, with Qe7 and Nxe4 close behind. ...Bxf2+ chases the king to f1 so it cannot castle and Black's pieces join the attack with tempo.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.