Fried Liver AttackC57

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7. White gives up a whole knight on f7 to pull Black's king out into the middle of the board, where White's pieces can chase it.

Its full name in the Lichess list is Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack.

Move by move

6. Nxf7: knight takes on f 7

White: e4, pawn to e 4.
Black: e5, pawn to e 5.
White: Nf3, knight to f 3.
Black: Nc6, knight to c 6.
White: Bc4, bishop to c 4.
Black: Nf6, knight to f 6.
White: Ng5, knight to g 5.
Black: d5, pawn to d 5.
White: exd5, pawn takes on d 5.
Black: Nxd5, knight takes on d 5.
White: Nxf7, knight takes on f 7.

What each side wants

⚪ White: After 6...Kxf7, check with Qf3+ and bring every piece you have toward the king.

⚫ Black: Don't let it happen: on move 5, play 5...Na5 instead of taking back on d5.

White made the last move, so after this it is Black's turn.

You will also hear it called the Fried Liver.

⚠️ The king in the middle

6... Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3

After 6...Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3, Black's king stands in the middle of the board with White's pieces coming. Strong players say Black can hold on, but it is very hard to do in a real game.

Three things every opening does

The Fried Liver Attack follows the three ideas strong players use in every opening. Get a pawn or two into the middle of the board, because pieces in the middle can reach more squares. Bring out your knights and bishops before you move the queen a lot, so she is not chased around. And castle early, so your king is tucked behind a wall of pawns and your rook joins the game. When you forget the moves, those three ideas will still help you find a good one.

Try it

Play it against Peabody on Play, then solve today's puzzle. Openings that start the same way:

Name, code and moves from the Lichess openings list (CC0), checked 31 October 2026. The words are Peabody's own, and every move on this page is checked by Peabody's chess engine.