Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line is a chess opening with the ECO code C57, part of the Italian Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Ke3. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 13 moves it is Black to move. After the last move White is 2 points ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. Bc4 – White plays the bishop to c4
3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
4. Ng5 – White plays the knight to g5
4... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
5. Nxf7 – White takes on f7 with the knight
5... Bxf2+ – Black takes on f2 with the bishop, giving check
6. Kxf2 – White takes on f2 with the king
6... Nxe4+ – Black takes on e4 with the knight, giving check
The line goes on for 1 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Italian Game
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, White plays 3.Bc4, aiming the bishop at the weak f7 pawn. It teaches quick development and fast castling.
The quiet plan is c3, d3, O-O and later d4 to build a strong centre.
f7 is guarded only by the king, so watch for Ng5 and Qh5 tricks.
Black can reply 3...Bc5 (Giuoco Piano) or 3...Nf6 (Two Knights), both sound choices.
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