Two Knights Defense Tactics

The Two Knights Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6

The Black Knight move 3... Nf6 announces the Two Knights; this aggressive defense results in open and often complex play.

White must respond to the attack on his e-pawn

Wilkes-Barre or Traxler Variation
4. Ng5 Bc5!?
5. Bxf7+! Ke7
6. Bb3!

Traxler Counterattack
or Wilkes-Barre Variation
4. Ng5 Bc5!?
5. Bxf7+ Ke7
6. Bd5 Rf8
7. O-O d6
8. c3 Bg4
9. Qb3 Bb6
10. Bxc6 bxc6

Lolli Variation
4.Ng5 d5
5. exd5 Nxd5!?
6. d4 Bb4+
7. c3 Be7
8. Nxf7 Kxf7
9. Qf3+ Ke6
10. Qe4 Rf8

Fried Liver Attack
6. Nxf7!? Kxf7
7. Qf3+ Ke6
8. Nc3 Ncb4
9. a3 Nxc2+
10. Kd1 Nxa1

Morphy Variation
5.... Na5
6. d3 h6
7. Nf3 e4
8. Qe2 Nxc4
9. dxc4 Bc5
10. Nfd2 O-O

Main Line Ng5
6. Bb5+ c6
7. dxc6 bxc6
8. Be2 h6
9. Nf3 e4
10. Ne5 Bc5

Steinitz Variation
9. Nh3 Bd6
10. d3 O-O

Bogoljubow Variation
8. Qf3 Rb8
9. Bd3 h6
10. Ne4 Nd5

Ulvestad Variation
5. ... b5
6. Bf1 h6
7. Nf3 Qxd5
8. Nc3 Qe6
9. Bxb5 Bb7
10. Qe2 O-O-O

Fritz Variation
5. ... Nd4
6. c3 b5
7. Bf1 Nxd5
8. Ne4 Qh4
9. Ng3 Bg4
10. f3 e4

Classical Variation
4. d4 exd4
5. O-O Nxe4
6. Re1 d5
7. Bxd5 Qxd5
8. Nc3 Qh5
9. Nxe4 Be6
10. Bg5 Bd6

Max Lange Attack
5. ... Bc5
6. e5 d5
7. exf6 dxc4
8. Re1+ Be6
9. Ng5 Qd5
10. Nc3 Qf5

Modern Variation
5. e5 d5
6. Bb5 Ne4
7. Nxd4 Bc5
8. Be3 Bd7
9. Bxc6bxc6
10. O-O Bb6

op. 1 Modern Variation
5 ... Ne4
6. Qe2 Nc5
7. O-O Ne6
8. Rd1 d5
9. Bb5 Bc5
10. c3 O-O

op. 2 Modern Variation
5 ... Ng4
6. O-O d6
7. exd6 Bxd6
8. Re1+ Be7
9. h3 Nf6
10. Nbd2 O-O

Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit
4. Nc3 Nxe4
5. O-O Nxc3
6. dxc3 Be7
7. Qd5 O-O
8. Nxe5 Nxe5
9. Qxe5 Bf6
10. Qh5 c6

Op. 1 Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit
4. O-O Nxe4
5. Nc3 ...
6. ... f6
7. Nh4 g6
8. f4 Qe7
9. Kh1 d6
10.... ...