For White· ECO C57· intermediate

Fried Liver Attack

The most famous attacking line in chess. A knight sacrifice for a devastating king hunt.

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

What is the Fried Liver Attack?

The Fried Liver Attack is one of the oldest and most dramatic attacking lines in chess. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5? (the critical mistake, better is 5...Na5), White plays 6.Nxf7!! Kxf7 7.Qf3+, launching a king hunt that often ends in checkmate. Known since the 16th century (Fegatello means 'fried liver' in Italian, Black's king is 'fried'), it remains a go-to weapon at club level because so many opponents walk into the 5...Nxd5 trap. Every 1.e4 e5 player must know how to attack with it as White and how to avoid it as Black.

Main variations

Each variation below comes with a diagram and the main plan. Click "Train this opening" to drill every line with spaced repetition.

Main Attack (5...Nxd5)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 5...Nxd5 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+

The classic Fried Liver. After 7...Ke6 8.Nc3, White wins back the piece with a devastating attack. Black's king is exposed and development lags badly.

Lolli Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 5...Nxd5 6.d4

A positional alternative to the Fried Liver. White plays for a big center and long-term pressure instead of an immediate sacrifice.

Traxler Counterattack (4...Bc5!?)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 4...Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+

Black's counter to the Fried Liver, ignore the f7 threat and attack with ...Bc5. After 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2, wild complications follow that favor Black at club level.

Common traps

Watch the trap unfold on the board, or step through move by move. These are patterns you can punish in your own games.

The classic Fried Liver

The full Fried Liver attack. Black's king on e6 is exposed, Nc3 brings another piece into the attack, and Black has no safe development.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3

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Start position

How deep should you study this?

Below 1200

As White, play the Fried Liver immediately, it wins games. As Black, learn the 5...Na5! move to avoid the trap.

1200–1600

Study the Lolli Attack as a positional alternative. It avoids Traxler theory and gives a slight long-term edge.

1600+

Master the Traxler Counterattack as Black. It's Black's best answer and surprisingly dangerous, White has to know precise lines.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Fried Liver a good opening for White?

At club level, absolutely. Many opponents don't know 5...Na5 and fall into 5...Nxd5 (the Fried Liver trap). At higher levels, strong Black players play 4...d5 or 5...Na5, avoiding the attack entirely.

How does Black avoid the Fried Liver?

Two ways: (1) 4...d5! before Nxf7 tactics, White's best is 5.exd5 Na5! attacking the bishop and avoiding the trap. (2) If you allow 4.Ng5, play 4...Bc5!? (Traxler Counterattack) instead of 4...d5. Both avoid the Fried Liver entirely.

What is Black's best move on move 5?

5...Na5! is the main correct move. Black attacks the Bc4 bishop and avoids the Fried Liver. After 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4, Black is a pawn down but has active pieces and good development as compensation.

Is the Fried Liver sound?

Only if Black cooperates with 5...Nxd5. Modern theory shows 5...Na5 is the correct move — Black is a pawn down but has sufficient compensation (active pieces, development lead). The Fried Liver remains a practical weapon at club level but is rarely seen in master games.

What is the Traxler Counterattack?

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5, Black plays 4...Bc5!? instead of the usual 4...d5. Black ignores the f7 threat and attacks first. After 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+, wild complications favor Black. Known as 'the Wilkes-Barre' in America.

Related openings

For White

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