The Moller Attack is lesson 9 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 3: king hunts, an opening course suited to players rated around 1500 (club players). Italian Game, Moller Attack, C54. White leaves a knight and a rook to open the centre. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the Italian Game with c3 and d4. Black took on e4 and then on c3. White does not take back. White pushes the d-pawn instead. About 563,000 rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
d5! White leaves the bishop on c3, which also hits the rook on a1. The pawn attacks the knight on c6, and the e-file opens toward the black king.
After Bf6 and Re1, Black's knight is pinned to the king. White wins it back with Rxe4, and Bg5 trades Black's best defender. White is behind in pawns, but Black's king is stuck. The engines call it about equal.
Recap.
In the Italian, Nxe4 and Bxc3 grab a lot.
d5 opens the centre instead of taking back.
Re1 pins the knight on e4.
Black's king in the centre pays for the pawns.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Italian Game, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black took on c3. Do not take back. Push a pawn that hits the knight on c6.
Black moves the knight to e5 instead. Now take the bishop on c3.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Italian Game, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers Bxc3. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Black took on c3. Do not take back. Push a pawn that hits the knight on c6. That is the Moller Attack. Your pieces flood the centre while Black's king waits on e8.
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