Quick answer
The Fried Liver Attack is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7! White sacrifices a knight on f7 to drag Black's king into the center and attack it. Black avoids it by playing 5...Na5! instead of 5...Nxd5, which gives an equal game.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7
- Best for
- Attacking players with White, and every 1...e5 player as Black (to defend it)
- Style
- Sharp and tactical; one wrong move decides the game
- Main idea
- Attack f7, sacrifice a knight to pull Black's king out, then hunt it with queen, bishop and pawns
The main line, move by move
This is the Fried Liver itself: Black takes back on d5 with the knight, and White sacrifices on f7. Step through it, then switch to Practice and play White's attacking moves yourself.
How the Fried Liver works
At the start of the game the f7 pawn is only defended by Black's king. The bishop on c4 and the knight on g5 both attack it, so Black has to react at once. After 4...d5 5.exd5, Black has to choose how to win the pawn back, and that choice decides everything.
White's plan
- Attack f7 with the bishop on c4 and the knight on g5.
- If Black recaptures with 5...Nxd5, sacrifice with 6.Nxf7 (or play the even stronger 6.d4, the Lolli Attack).
- Keep the king in the center: Qf3+, Nc3, d4 and bring every piece into the attack before Black can escape.
Black's plan
- Don't play 5...Nxd5. Play 5...Na5!, attacking the bishop on c4.
- Give back the pawn to develop fast: ...c6, ...h6, ...e4 and ...Bd6, and use the extra time to attack White's knight.
- If you love chaos, the Traxler (4...Bc5) counterattacks instead, but it's risky (see the FAQ).
How Black should defend: 5...Na5!
This is the line strong players use as Black. Black moves the knight out of the pawn's attack, kicks White's bishop, and gives up a pawn to get fast development. Practice it as Black so you're never caught by the Fried Liver.
Common mistakes in the Fried Liver
- Black: 5...Nxd5. It looks natural, but it allows the Nxf7 sacrifice. Play 5...Na5 instead.
- Black: taking on f7 and then running the wrong way. After 6.Nxf7 Kxf7 7.Qf3+, 7...Ke6 is forced. Other king moves lose the d5 knight.
- White: sacrificing without a plan. After Nxf7, you're a knight down. Keep giving checks and bringing pieces (Nc3, d4, Bf4); if you slow down, Black's king escapes and the extra knight wins.
- White: playing 4.Ng5 against 3...Bc5. The Fried Liver only works against the Two Knights (3...Nf6). Against 3...Bc5, develop normally.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fried Liver Attack good?
Against 5...Nxd5 it's very dangerous, and the engine rates White better after 6.Nxf7. But Black can avoid it completely with 5...Na5, which leads to an equal game. So it's a great weapon in fast games and against beginners, but not a guaranteed win.
Why is it called the Fried Liver?
The name comes from the Italian "Fegatello", a dish of liver. The idea is that Black's king gets "cooked" in the middle of the board. The line was analyzed by Italian players as early as the 1600s.
What is the Traxler Counterattack?
It's 4...Bc5 instead of 4...d5. Black ignores the threat to f7 and attacks White's f2. It's wild and fun, but White's best answer, 5.Bxf7+!, gives White an advantage, so it's mostly used as a surprise in fast games.
What is the Lolli Attack?
After 5...Nxd5, White can also play 6.d4 instead of 6.Nxf7. It opens the center first and is rated even stronger than the knight sacrifice by modern engines.