How to play the fried liver attack

FRIED LIVER MAIN LINE

The Fried Liver Attack begins in the Italian game. Black’s two most common replies are Bc5 and Nf6. After Bc5, you can initiate the Evan’s Gambit if you like attacking chess. However, more often you’ll encounter Nf6 as a way to counter attack in the center.

3… Nf6

The whole point of the Fried Liver Attack and the Italian Game is to put pressure on f7. Because black has developed both knights first (three knights game) that means that black is unable to easily defend f7.

The Fried Liver Attack begins with white realizing this weakness, and defying an opening principle by moving a minor piece twice.

4. Ng5

This move can certainly catch black off-guard. Normally, black would respond to pressure on f7 with e6, 0-0, or Nh6, all of which are not possible just yet.

The most accurate way to respond to the threat is to push d5, temporarily cutting the bishop off from its sight on f7.

4… d5 5. exd5

The best follow up is not to take the pawn with the knight, but to play na5. Let’s see what happens if black captures first.

5… Nxd5 6. Nxf7

The point of the opening is to play this sacrifice. Crazy enough, it doesn’t work by delivering a knockout right away.

The idea is that the knight on d5 is pinned if black captures the knight. If black doesn’t capture the knight, then white wins a piece as it is forking the queen and rook.

6… Kxf7 7. Qf3+

Here’s where you can catch most of your opponents off guard. The knight is attacked twice, and the king certainly doesn’t want to find it self in the center of the board.

In this opening, white has already violated a principle and moved the knight three times. Now its blacks turn to violate a principle and develop the king!.

7… Ke6

 
This move defies everything we learn about in chess school. The king is in the center, and not many pieces are developed. White’s next logical move is to put another attacker on the pinned piece with nc3.

8. Nc3 Nb4

The most common reply and the one that makes the most sense. Black is threatening to fork the king and rook while simultaneously protecting the knight on d5. Now black can play c6 to further protect the knight. Strangely enough, black’s king is safe in the center for now.

9. O-O

White protects their king and gets ready to play Re1 followed by d4. The pawn on e5 is black’s kings only protection.

9… c6

c6 protects the knight and gives the black king a safe place to hide when the time comes.

As long as white can keep up the pressure, they are in a good spot. White is still down a piece at this time, so it’s important to not let up at least until a piece is won back.

10. d4

White had to castle the king before playing d4, or else both the c2 and d4 pawns would have been lost with tempo. Black cannot capture the pawn unless he has a death wish.

10… Qf6

(10… exd4 11. Bxd5+ Nxd5 12. Re1+ Kd6 13. Bg5 Qd7

The bishop is immune thanks to Qxg5 ne4! winning the queen.

The queen also cannot move to c7 because of Nxd5 followed by Bf4, also winning the queen.

 
14. Qg3+ Kc5 15. b4+ Kxb4 16. Rab1+ Ka5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Bd2+ Ka6 19. Qd3+ b5 20. Re6+

The rook is immune thanks to Qxb5#

20… Bd6 21. Rxd6+ Qxd6 22. Qxb5#

 11. Qd1

Protecting the pawn on c2 and simultaneously hitting the knight on d5 again with an X-ray attack after dxe5. The black queen can’t take the pawn on e5 either due to Re1, pinning the queen.

11… exd4

Unfortunately, white was unable to deliver a knock out here. However, there are still a lot of advantages. The knight is still pinned. The b4 knight doesn’t have a great square to stand on, and black is massively under developed.

That being said, white is still down a piece and hasn’t won yet. This game is playable for both sides. For the record, the engine puts white at just about +1 right now.

 What this means for masters and above is that we have a playable game.

What this means for players under 2000 elo is that it’s anyone’s game.

12. Ne4 Qf5 13. a3 Kd7 14. Ng3 Qxc2 15. Qxd4 b5