Is the Wilkes-Barre/Traxler Busted? Probably

I disagree, even after all your attempts you failed to show that black is completely lost.  I see maybe a slight disadvantage at most for black.  Believe it or not, your variation does not refute the Traxler.

I think that the WBT is a theoretical bust i.e. White advantage in all the critical lines but clearly playable at any level as Beliavsky has demonstrated. Still, however, I don't think many GM's would want to inherit a position where Black has only Rook and pawn for two minor pieces which is generally believed to favor the pieces. In addition to the material deficit, Black also has a busted pawn structure i.e. +/- in all 8...Nxe4 variations.

Although you have tried repeatedly to refute, 8.Nf3 all these months, you have never provided any consistent analysis indicating Black can equalize. I suggest post members review your analysis for themselves because you have, grudgingly, admitted that this is one of my better innovations.

The 8...Kf7 variations just favor White and the 8...Bg4 variations IM Danny Kopec and GM Lev Alburt feel favor White.

To claim only a slight advantage may apply to 8...Bg4, but clearly not to 8...Nxe4.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bd5 Rf8 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nf3 Nxe4!

I think this move is critical otherwise black is losing a lot of time playing a move like 8...Kf7.

9.Qe2 Nxf2 10.Rf1 Qd6! this is the only move that holds.  Two tries by white.

11.d3 Ng4?

This move comes very close to working.  Unfortunately it is refuted by:

12.Nc3! Be6 13.Ne4 Qd5 14.Bd2 b5 15.0-0-0 Bd6 16.Nc3 Qc5 17.h3 Nf6 18.Be3 Qb4 19.a3 Qa5 20.Bd4!! b4 21.Nxe5 Qa6 22.axb4 and black is in trouble.

A better try is

11...Bg4 12.Bg5+ Kd7! and black is all right.

13.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Rf5 16.Be3 Qb4+ 17.c3 Qb5 18.c4 Qa5+ 19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Nxd2 Rh5 21.Bg1 Rd8 22.Ne4 b6 and I think the position is equal as white has adequate compensation for black's extra pawn.

White tried to improve with 11.Nc3

11.Nc3 Bg4 12.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13.Qxf2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qf6 15.b3 Kd7 16.Ba3 Rf7 17.0-0-0 Qxf3 18.Qh4 h6 and black is looking good in the endgame.

This is certainly a rough variation for black if he is not prepared.  There are probably improvements available, but black should only put hope in 8...Nxe4 unless 8...Kf7 is shown to be good.  I think with best play black can hold.

In none of your previous tries were you able to demonstrate equality. Now, after several claims at equality, you still claim equality in a losing position.

5.Bxf7ch Ke7 6.Bd5 Rf8 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nf3 Nxe4 9.Qe2 Nxf2 10.Rf1 Qd6 11.d4! (Not analyzed in your latest post) Bxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Be3! Qxb2 14.Bc5ch Ke8 15.Bxf8 Qxa1 16.Bxg7 Qxb1ch 17.Kxf2 & Fritz 10 says +-.

You have finally arrived at the line we were talking about at the beginning of this thread.  None of your previous lines seemed that bad until I saw d4 which I mentioned, but we never truly discussed.  After that move black is in big trouble. 

5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bd5 Rf8 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.Nf3 Nxe4? is refuted by 9.Qe2 Nxf2 10.Rf1 Qd6 11.d4!

The practical chances are good for black though.

At this point, I think we need to take a look at 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bd5 d6!? as Gonnosuke mentioned earlier.

I see no point to 6...d6 due to 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.d3 Bg4 9.Nf3 Rf8 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 Rb8 12.b3 Kf7 13.Nbd2 Kg8 14.O-O +/-

I think that 8...Qe8 may be better before you commit the rook or bishop.  I find that if you move the rook early you go right back into similar problem lines as previous.

I easily drew Fritz 12 in the 8...Nxe4 variation because I missed a simple plus with White. Obviously if a 1600 player can draw a 2800 level computer, it does not bode well for Black's practical chances.

Again as in your other thread, what is wrong with 17...Raf8?

I have reluctantly concluded that my innovation in the Wilkes-Barre/Traxler (Bd5/Bxc6/Nf3) is, at best, good for a minute plus i.e. first move advantage only. Here is a better chance at a clear refutation as a post member has argued on this thread. Black is never in this game;

 it was played at 60'99 against Fritz 12.

Here is a game in 5 against Fritz 10. It also suggests that 6...Qe8 is no better than 6...Rf8:

While Fritz 10 doesn't play the Wilkes-Barre/Traxler well at blitz speed, it sure knows how to play at a time lime of 480'60 480'40. The astonishing concept that Fritz plays against 6.Bb3 is amazing. It played 6...Nd4!!. Who could resist 7.Nf7? I will address c3 next. This gives Black at least equality after 7...Qf8 8.Nxh8 Nxe4! 9.O-O Nxf2! with plenty of initiative for the material.

This is what I found in analyzing the position with Fritz. Here is the actual game:

The previous post gives an overly optimistic view of Black's chances. With accurate play, here, just like every other major variation, Black is just a pawn down struggling for compensation. All that is needed is the correct move order. Here is a second try at 480'60, 480'40.

Another try by Black that doesn't work in the system:

I have long since addressed that line many months ago with you and I had shown that it was inadequate.  You have simply reproduced my analysis.

Black never has compensation for the pawn in a critical variation. This game was against Fritz 10 where Black played very aggressively; it is hard to believe that passive play is better.