How to Beat the Fried Liver Attack

What you're facing: White sacrifices a full knight on f7 to drag Black's king into the open — one of the most fearsome weapons at club level.

The moves you'll see

Your counter-plans

• Avoid it entirely: after 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5, play 5…Na5! (the main line) — not 5…Nxd5, which invites the sacrifice.
• If you're in it, memorize: …Ne7, …c6, and give back material to trade queens — survival first, greed later.
• The Traxler Counterattack (4…Bc5!?) turns the tables: Black ignores f7 and sacrifices on f2 instead.

What your opponent is trying to do

• After 6…Kxf7 7. Qf3+ the double attack on d5 forces 7…Ke6 — Black's king defends the knight from the center of the board.
• Pile on with Nc3, keep every piece attacking, and don't rush — the king can't escape, so bring reinforcements.
• Even if the attack only regains material, Black's shattered king position wins the endgame.

Rehearse your defense against the computer until the counter-plans are muscle memory — free, in your browser.