Many of my games as Black feature the Two Knights' Defence.
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
Sometimes my opponent will play 4. Ng5
, and I usually reply with 4 ... d5
. It is not uncommon for the play to continue 5. exd5 Nxd5
(because neither of us knows any better - I'm still learning to smell fried liver), and if my opponent is particularly bloodthirsty, 6. Bxd5 Qxg5
.
But I've just heard of the Traxler Counterattack, in which I would play 4 ... Bc5!?
. How is that a seriously played course? With 4... Bc5!? 5. Bxf7+
White wins a Pawn without any compensation for Black that I can see.
The merit that I see in it for Black is when White plays 5. Nxf7
. Even that seems unsteady for Black.
My options as I see it are 1) go for the Traxler (and maybe lose a pawn?), 2) lose a pawn (after 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5
), 3) face a possible fried liver attack (after 5... Nxd5
), and 4) avoid 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
altogether, perhaps by playing 3... h6
as I've seen some do. Then again, the "lost" Pawn I've mentioned might be able to be avenged, but how?