Two Knights Defence

Play as BlackDefence

Black counter-attacks at once and meets the sharp Ng5 with ...d5.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... e5 — Black claims the center too.
3. 2. Nf3 — Retreat the knight to a good square.
4. 2... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. Bc4 — Brings the bishop into the game.
6. 3... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
7. 4. Ng5 — Hit f7 a second time.
8. 4... d5 — The key reply: block the attack and strike at the center.
9. 5. exd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
10. 5... Na5 — Attack the bishop on c4.
11. 6. Bb5+ — Gives check.
12. 6... c6 — Block the check and attack the bishop on b5.
13. 7. dxc6 — Takes the pawn on c6.
14. 7... bxc6 — Takes the pawn on c6.
15. 8. Be2 — Retreat the bishop to safety.
16. 8... h6 — Kick the knight away from g5.
17. 9. Nf3 — Retreat the knight to a good square.
18. 9... e4 — Push the pawn and attack the knight again.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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