1.e4 — the open games
Fried Liver Attack
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7ECO C57
A razor-sharp knight sacrifice out of the Two Knights Defence: White gives up a knight on f7 to drag Black's king into the open and hunt it down. Objectively double-edged and much feared at club level, it's the classic lesson in attacking a stuck king — and in why 3…Nf6 needs precise handling.
Key ideas
- 6.Nxf7 rips open the king; after 6…Kxf7 7.Qf3+ White regains material and keeps the initiative.
- Black's king is stuck in the centre, so every White move comes with tempo and threats.
- Theory holds Black is fine with accurate defence (and 5…Na5 sidesteps it entirely), but one slip is fatal.
Who it suits
Attacking players who relish a direct kingside assault and don't mind memorising sharp lines.
Add it to your repertoire.
Drill the Fried Liver Attack move by move against the board until it's second nature.
Open the trainer