4Ng5 in the Two Knights Defence

I recently started looked at the double e4 openings (I have played mostly d4 before) and was wondering if I could get any feedback on the Two Knights Defence from black's point of view.  If white playss Ng5 he ends up a pawn ahead in many lines.  In general, does theory hold that there is enough compensation for the pawn?  I tend to be a materialist at heart, and mistrust gambits unless they come with a great deal of compensation.  Anyone play this as black and do you think there is enough compensatin for the pawn in a variation like 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5 Na4?

What would be an authoritative answer?  What if GM A says yes, GMB says no, and Houdini says .00 at depth 18?

Perhaps we could poll titled players like dentists are supposedly polled for toothpastes?

 I don't need an "authoritative" answer, just some opinions, hopefully backed up by real experience.

I think black has compensation. I haven't gotten to play all that much against Ng5, and when I have, I haven't typically gone down the main lines with Na5, instead preferring weird variations like the Ulvestad, and I'm saving the Traxler for some poor soul when I feel like having a little fun. 

I should also say I've never really given the Giuoco Piano much of a shot, looking at it once and deciding that I preferred 2 knights, and that was quite awhile ago. 

To find your compensation I'd say look at white's misplaced g5 knight, the e-pawn which he probably can't hold (therefore his lack of central presence), and the extra tempos he's probably spending moving the knight out and back, moving the pawn twice (remember a pawn is worth about 3 tempos), and the fact that your pieces are a little better coordinated (the a5 knight has to come back to the game, but I think that tempo is offset by white having to do something about his attacked bishop.).

I should add that you need to be ready to play some pretty sharp lines if you choose to play the 2 knights' defense. Take a look and see which ones you can sidestep and which ones you need to be prepared to play, because some of them are extremely sharp (see Max Lange Attack or the Loli, and of course the famous Fried Liver (which you don't have to allow)).

So there's an opinion, someone else is gonna have to provide the real experience =)

f you would like to see the thoughts of a correspondence master on this subject, see http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Knights-A-Chess-Killing-Machine-with-an-Emphasis-on-4-Ng5-/271319251507?ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

Dude you have spammed this link on every Two Knights Defense thread.  Advertising much?

I would advise against buying a pig in a poke. Especially since I can't find any relevent information on the author.

The guy quotes Mark Twain. It's got to be good.

$32 and putting up with soliciting on a forum that forbids it good?

Black must have fine compensation, due to this:

White moves the same piece twice in the opening (but I prefer 4.. Bc5, developing!)

Normally I just play the solid 3... Bc5, only dangerous gambit is the Evans Gambit.

Humm, turns out the posted site rules only forbid advertising competitive sites and spammy/pointless/distracting posts. 

However, I still would no more buy that book then I would reward a puppy for pissing on the kitchen floor. I doubt I lost much by doing so, but if you want to buy a book from somone without a FIDE title, by all means don't let me stand in your way.

I see 4.Ng5 a lot at my level (not high!) and to tell the truth, I´m always hoping for it as Black in the Two Knights. I always play the following line, and everything depends on what White does with his bishop after 7...bxc6. Anything other than 8.Be2, and he´s in trouble.

White isn't in trouble after 8. Bd3, it might even be the best move. Of course you don't play Nf3...

Yes you´re right, I hardly ever see that and had assumed that the blocking of d2 and the DSB would be a problem, but it gives him Ne4 for his knight:

Bogol tried 8.Qf3, if my memory serves me right...

Naka has played 8. Bd3 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1545022 I believe the e4 square is quite important.

Here's my favorite TND line:

This is my own "pet line", I'm not sure I can claim I invented it, but it's a fun one to play.

Looks good Twinchicky, kind of delayed Traxler!

Glad we had this thread, it made me look a few things up including the 8.Qf3 line from Crazychess, so I knew what to do when i got it just now in a Blitz game ... 8... Rb8 had looked improbable as it gives up another pawn, but I played it anyway and it turned out to be well worth it!:

Obviously in post 17, 12. Be3 isn't even slightly forced, but I'd love to start after move 11 as white.

Right Scott, I presume 12.Kf1 is the only safe move?