Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. Ng5/4...Nxe4

Two Knights Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p1N1/2B1n3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Nxe4
ECO code: C57-C59
Parent: Italian Game

Two Knights Defence

4...Nxe4?

Not the best move for Black. Ignoring the threat of White's position, they grab the e-pawn. This initially seems like a good move because Black has 5...d5 after 5. Nxe4? forking the knight and bishop.

However, White can now capture Black's unprotected f-pawn with check: 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. d4! and Black cannot yet take on g5 without losing his queen.

5. Nxf7 is a mistake, as after 5... Qh4 Black gains an advantage even against White's best defense.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Nxe4

		5	6	7
		Bxf7+ Ke7	d4 d5	Nc3	+=
			... Nxd4	Nc3 Nf6	+=
			... h6	Nxe4	+=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.