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OPENING TRAP

Fried Liver Attack: A knight sacrifice that drags the black king into the open

The Fried Liver Attack is a trap in the Two Knights Defence. A knight sacrifice that drags the black king into the open. A sharp attack. Engines call it roughly level, but it is hard for Black to defend over the board.

The moves

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

  1. 1. e4 Claim the centre and open the diagonals.
  2. 1... e5 Black does the same.
  3. 2. Nf3 Develop with a threat on e5.
  4. 2... Nc6 Black defends the pawn.
  5. 3. Bc4 The bishop aims at f7.
  6. 3... Nf6 Black counterattacks e4. This is the Two Knights Defence.
  7. 4. Ng5 Now f7 is attacked twice and defended once, only by the king.
  8. 4... d5 Black hits your bishop and opens the centre. It is the natural reply.
  9. 5. exd5 Take the pawn. Black’s knight can recapture, and that is where the trouble starts.
  10. 5... Nxd5 The knight recaptures. 5...Na5 is Black’s best move, so this one walks into the Fried Liver.
  11. 6. Nxf7!? The sacrifice. The knight takes f7 and forks the queen and the rook.
  12. 6... Kxf7 Black takes the knight. Now the king stands on f7, very exposed.
  13. 7. Qf3+ Check. The queen also attacks the knight on d5.
  14. 7... Ke6 The king walks to e6, the middle of the board.
  15. 8. Nc3 More pressure on d5. You are a piece down, but the king in the centre is hard to defend.

How to avoid it

As Black, answer 4.Ng5 with 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5. The knight steps away from the Fried Liver.

Practise it

In Trap Academy you watch this lesson, then play the White side yourself against the replies of the trap. This lesson is part of Skillwik Pro.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Fried Liver Attack?

A knight sacrifice that drags the black king into the open. It arises in the Two Knights Defence. A sharp attack. Engines call it roughly level, but it is hard for Black to defend over the board.

How do you avoid the Fried Liver Attack?

As Black, answer 4.Ng5 with 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5. The knight steps away from the Fried Liver.

More chess traps

Last updated 20 October 2026. Every line on this page is replayed move by move in an automated test.