The Two Knight's Defense is a very popular way to counter 3.Bc4 as black, and has been played almost seven thousand times if you look on 'Game Explorer,' however, I have devised an attack against it and want to know what you think of it.   Please note that the system I have showing you is completely original and has never been recorded as having been played at Master Level.   Overall the idea for white is to play 1.e4 e5 2.nf3 nf6 3. bc4 nf6 4.d3, followed by nbd7, c3, qb3.

The idea of playing d3 and c3, with a possible d4 later, is certainly not new, and in fact it is a system known as Pseudo-Lopez. I am not sure how Qb3 is a very strong move here since it doesn't really threaten anything much, and allows a timely Na5, exchanging the light-squared Bishop which the idea of Pseudo-Lopez is to keep.

There is a little to fear from 4.d3 as black.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 d6 7.Nbd2 Bg4! is much better for black.  White will have difficulty playing d4 due to the pin.

I am a little disappointed that popularity has shifted from 4.Ng5 to 4.d3 now.  I do enjoy playing a few more Traxlers.  In addition, 4.Nc3 has been gaining quite a few followers so I get to sac on e4 more often.

@Atos, that is the point, no one has played Qb3 yet; its aim is very simple: it reinforces the c4 bishop, as well as putting pressure on the b7 and f7 squares.   Also, it is a waiting move to play a move like Qa4+ against moves like Na5.

@Conqistador, this is the line against that:

   There are other ways where White may gain an advantage but are more complex and rely on where Black moves.   The rook for Black is slightly misplaced and White will counter that.

Oh, and Atos, I never said I aim to go to d4 so that opening is irrelevant

@Reb, I never said you gain a big advantage, but after Na5, in my opinion, a novice's opinion, Black definitely does not have an advantage.   Black has a very closed position which makes it hard to activate his pieces, while White has developed all his pieces soundly 

Yes, looks like Na5 instead of Rb8 in the first game and black is even a little bit better. The system is extremely solid, and d3 is even more popular than Ng5 as a move.

I don't exactly see how you can attack f7 in that position. Black looks as safe as houses. The basic plan is good, but the Qb3 move is too easily countered and in that case, what is your knight doing on d2 instead of c3, its natural square?

@Padman, firstly, Qb3 is indirectly attacking the f7 square since if the rook goes to e8 then Bxf7+ wins the game, so Qb3 is actually a waiting move.   Yes the Queen will be attacked but the c3 move will mean White's Queen will be completely safe.  Nbd7 makes way for the c3 move which could not be done if nc3 was played.   Also, as explained, the Queen is only at b3 temporarily and has aims of a4. 

@Reb, again...  I prefer White's position in my opinion, a novice's opinion, but you may think it equal, different people like different stuff!

In my opinion, 4.d3 cannot be called an attack. Its a very passive and slow move. White would rather play d4 at some point, where the pawn creates pressure on e5 and the queen has more options. The mainline 2 knights stuff is fine and white can usually get some advantage, you should examine them.

in one of the positions you mentioned that you think the rook is misplaced on b8. I disagree. it seems pretty natural plan for black to expand the queenside, and right now there are no open files at all, so where else should the rook be?

@Reb, there are lots of openings which exchange the bishop pair for the Knight pair such as the Lowenthal Variation in the Sicilian Defense, where Black  has good chances of winning the game, so this should be no set back for White.   Anyhow, Knights can be better in some cases and if you look at the position of the first diagram in the original question, the Knights are more actively placed than the Black Bishops.

@FiveofSwords, you will be surprised to know that d3 is the most common move against the Two Knights Defence; it is not passive in that it activates the c1 Bishop and prepares to pin the f3 Knight 

yes thomas, d3 does do something...its not a totally wasted move...its just not optimal. And Common moves are often bad. If you want to play d3, then I think you should not play Nf3, that way you can try for the f4 break.

 If you do not open the position for your inherent white development advantage or gain any space advantage then its hard to understand what you are trying to accomplish. Probably nothing. You just want to get your stuff out with no worries, and without hampering black from doing the same. It's just a guicco pianissimo.

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Really, Black must have the better longterm chances in the first game after 8...Na5.

Frankly I would fall off my chair if a strong opponent playing White did this against me.

padman: I have a penchant for developing my b1 knight to d2 in the Ruy (to f1,e3/g3), so I wouldn't say it's a bad spot in this structure either.

One thing i dont like about Nd2 is that it traps the Be3 in and so thus Ng4 forces a swap off. And theres a mistake in ur commentary where you write Bb5 instead of Bg4 (which is what you mean), then Qb3 wins a pawn.

I get the impression that you are playing Qb3 hoping that black wants to move his rook from f8. But black has absolutely no reason to move the rook from f8. All files are closed and white obviously isnt interested in opening any.