Fried Liver Attack: How to Play It
The knight sacrifice that drags the black king to e6 — and the most common way club games end before move fifteen.
The main line
The Fried Liver Attack begins 6.Nxf7. Here is the position after the opening moves, and the moves themselves — play through them on a board before you read the plans, because everything below refers back to this structure.
| 1. | e4 | e5 |
| 2. | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3. | Bc4 | Nf6 |
| 4. | Ng5 | d5 |
| 5. | exd5 | Nxd5 |
| 6. | Nxf7 |
The moves, one at a time
- White e4 — the most-played first move in chess — it opens lines for the queen and the light-squared bishop at once
- Black e5 — the classical reply, staking an equal claim in the centre and refusing to concede space
- White Nf3 — develops toward the centre, controls e5 and d4, and prepares to castle
- Black Nc6 — develops with tempo against the centre and prepares to contest d4 and e5
- White Bc4 — points the bishop straight at f7, the square defended only by the king
- Black Nf6 — develops and immediately attacks e4 — the most common second move for Black
- White Ng5 — attacks f7 twice with the bishop already on c4
- Black d5 — the mirror image, contesting the centre with a pawn rather than from a distance
- White exd5 — opens the position at a moment when the recapture leaves a piece awkwardly placed
- Black Nxd5 — the natural-looking recapture that walks into the sacrifice on f7
- White Nxf7 — the sacrifice — the king is dragged to f7 where the queen check on f3 forks everything
The idea in one paragraph
The Fried Liver is sound because Black's king cannot get back. After Nxf7 Kxf7, White plays Qf3+ hitting the king and the pinned knight on d5 at once, and Black's extra piece is irrelevant if he cannot get his pieces out.
The four plans that win games
These are not variations to memorise. They are the recurring plans — learn what you are trying to achieve and the moves become much easier to find.
Qf3+ immediately
The follow-up that makes the sacrifice work. It forks the king and the d5 knight, and Nc3 is coming to hit it again.
Nc3 to pile on d5
The knight on d5 is Black's only defender and it is attacked three times before he can develop anything.
Keep the king in the open
d4 and Bg5 prevent …Ne7 and …Kg8 respectively. Every move should stop Black from consolidating.
Know the Lolli alternative
6.d4 instead of Nxf7 is objectively stronger and less well known. If your opponent knows the Fried Liver, this is the upgrade.
The pawn structure
White gives a knight for the f7 pawn, forcing the black king into the open where it faces a bishop, a queen and a knight.
Structure outlasts everything else in the opening. Pieces get traded and plans change, but the pawns decide which squares exist and which do not — and that is what you are really choosing when you choose an opening.
Mistakes that lose games
The Traxler Counterattack
4…Bc5 ignores the threat entirely and offers a counter-sacrifice on f2. It is wild, sound, and if you have not studied it you will be worse.
The Polerio Defense is the real test
5…Na5 instead of …Nxd5 is Black's correct move. Meet it with Bb5+ and d3 — you have a pleasant game, but not a winning attack.
Do not play Nxf7 if the Polerio has been chosen
The sacrifice only works against 5…Nxd5. Playing it anyway just loses a piece.
A game worth studying
Countless club games — this is the most frequently played sacrifice in amateur chess, and knowing 5…Na5 is worth more rating points than any other single fact.
The other side of this opening
This page is written for the player playing the Fried Liver Attack. For the opposite view — the plans, the traps and the structures from the other side of the board — read How to beat the Fried Liver Attack.
Practise it on a live board
Reading an opening guide gets you about a third of the way. The rest comes from playing the structure until the plans are automatic. The Grandmaster Gains Academy has 197 interactive lessons and a full engine, and you can play the Fried Liver Attack against it right now, free, in your browser.
Play the Fried Liver Attack against the engine
Free, in the browser, no sign-up. Then have every move rated afterwards so you can see exactly where the plan went wrong.
♔ Play free nowRelated openings
- How to play the Italian Game
- How to beat the Italian Game
- How to play the Evans Gambit
- How to beat the Evans Gambit
- How to play the Scholar's Mate Defense
- How to beat the Scholar's Mate Defense
Teaching this opening?
Coaches use Grandmaster Gains to set positions, track which students actually practise, and show parents a rating that means something. See the trainer classroom or book private coaching.
Common questions
Is the Fried Liver Attack good for beginners?
It is good for anyone willing to learn its plans rather than its moves. The Fried Liver is sound because Black's king cannot get back The plans on this page are the same at 800 rating and at 2400 — only the accuracy changes..
What is the main idea of the Fried Liver Attack?
The Fried Liver is sound because Black's king cannot get back. After Nxf7 Kxf7, White plays Qf3+ hitting the king and the pinned knight on d5 at once, and Black's extra piece is irrelevant if he cannot get his pieces out.
What is the most common mistake in the Fried Liver Attack?
The Traxler Counterattack. 4…Bc5 ignores the threat entirely and offers a counter-sacrifice on f2. It is wild, sound, and if you have not studied it you will be worse.
How much theory do I need to play the Fried Liver Attack?
Less than you think, provided you learn the structure instead of the moves. Start with the main line on this page and the first of the four plans — qf3+ immediately. That is enough to play the opening reasonably from your very next game.