Old, Bold, Seldom Used Def for Black Against e4 then Nf3?

Sorry, this is probably old question...but is there a sneaky, attacking seldom used defense for Black against e4 then Nf3 by White?

   Not the Petroff, a bit stale and boring.

  Not the Scotch or Scotch Gambit, great but not sneaky enough.

  Nothing like Italian or 4 N's.   Not the Sicilian, too well known.  Not the Philidor or Caro-Kann. 

  Something like the Traxler, that's what I've got in mind, but they don't often attack with the Fried Liver.  (the Traxler is sneaky, surprising, bold, attacking seldom used or known below 1600; they think you've gone nuts and suicidal when you sac your Biship)   (also could be similar to the Sokolsky except for Black, something totally insane looking but deceptively part sound)     Is there anything that has all these?  Doesn't have to be for Expert level, just for <1800    

Uhm, you'd never get the Traxler against me.  You can't force it.

First off, White shouldn't always play 1.e4 and 2.Nf3.  You mention the Caro-Kann.  Against 1.e4 c6, White should play 2.d4, not 2.Nf3.  Same thing goes for the French, Modern, Pirc, or any other opening that neither attacks e4 (1...d5/1...Nf6) nor d4 (1...c5, 1...e5).

Also, The Traxler assumes that White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5.  White can just as easily play 4.d4, or 3.d4/3.Bb5, or 2.f4/2.d4/2.Nc3, or even 1.d4/1.c4/1.Nf3.

So quit trying to find "sneaky" stuff, and learn the proper way to play chess.  You may have to take your lumps as you learn an opening, but play something normal that meets your typical style of play and stick with it until you've mastered other parts of the game.  Then expand.

I started out playing the French for 10 years - 1997 to 2007.  Since then, I've played it sporadically, but I've also played 1...e5, Caro-Kann, Modern, Najdorf Sicilian, Taimanov Sicilian, and the Accelerated Dragon since then.

Not to mention, your post also makes no sense because you want to play the Traxler Counter-Gambit, but yet avoid the Scotch.

Uhm, after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6, what forces White to play 3.Bc4?  Let's say I play 3.d4!  Oops!  Now we have a Scotch!

I can only say 1 thing about the original post:

SMH!

http://chessimprover.com/correspondence-chess-advice-from-iccf-world-champion/

Oops! Wrong thread.

So that'd be a "No, I don't know of any."

This IS my style.  Looking for something like the Traxler.  And I certainly am learning the 'proper' way to play chess.  Reading My System, doing at least 25 tactics a day, practicing my 'chess vision' reading another book or two and playing OTB six to eight games a week, as well as 20 a week online. 

   I tried the French a little - too boring like the Petroff; both you could call "Watching Paint Dry Opening" or "Just club me over the Head and let me Sleep" Opening.   

PITW

Your question is very difficult because normally only after 1.e4 e5 there is 2.Nf3 and yet you are talking about halfopen games which you have all shot down, by the way. So how can I help you? Maybe try the Kiel variation of the Scandinavian? It's an opening trap you can have some fun with a few times anyway. Now, if we assume your plan cannot be forced, try aiming for the Schliemann of the Spanish, maybe the Marshall or very maybe the (neo)Archangelsk variation. These options should lead to interesting play, the first two being sharper than the last option. This can all be avoided, so it may be the case actually no one can help you. Unless if you want to go for the lion, a Dutch universal system that is certainly offbeat! That is the only thing I can think of, unless you want me to list every single line against the Italian, the Scotch and the King's gambit, which seems like a lot of work really. If you're interested in this I hope you can be a bit more specific with your question! Hope this helps and good luck!  

I don't play it myself, but the one that comes to my mind is the Scandinavian.

Okay, there we go.  I will look up Scandinavian/Kiel, those others, and this Lion/Dutch?   Sounds like something your countryman Van Gogh might have tried.

1...e5 was implied, but I never stated that move.  Perhaps that's where one could stray and go different, on Black's 1st move.   Or there may be none as I describe and I may have to do the Scotch for a year and try to get good at it.

This Lion, is it called the Black Lion?  Is it the so called aggressive version of Philidor?

Thanks Van Gogh!!  (that's a complement as I hold Vincent in high regard) 

edit:  Will check out the Scandinavian too; I've played against it some with white. 

Yes, this is the variation in the Philidor where you might play h6, g5, Rg8 and also you hop in with the knight, but it is way more than just that. It has options against all of white's lines. There is a black lion and a white lion now by the way! There is enough of other stuff if you don't mean an 1.e4 e5 opening. The Alekhine's defence comes to mind, though I don't care for it myself. I do of course remember the Mokele M'bembe, which is a wicked trap. (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4!? with the idea to throw in the queen check on h4 if white tries to win the knight.) You can even throw out the other knight and play the Nimzowitsch defence. (1e4 Nc6) I would never play that, but I hope it gives you some ideas.

Well you can play the Elephant Gambit but idk if I'd recommend it. Phil Corbin had some pretty high level success in it in recentish times. It's possible.

For every one game like this there'll be many where White just goes for a safe edge and gets it: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1312572 

Boy there's not much on that Black Lion...only one old book on Amazon and it's in descriptive notation. (drives me to drink Irish whisky)  So does the main line of the Does the Black Lion go like  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3  then what??  Saw one place where this is called Philidor/Nimzo Variation. 

Whoa, that Elephant Gambit is looking very interesting! 

We're all cross posting...thanks for all the replies.   Gives me plenty of fodder. 

Don't know where you get "boring" out of this, and this is with Black even missing about 6 consecutitive opportunities to play ...Bxf3 with a -3 position.  Alas, White blundered on move 20 and lost the game.  I played this game back on October 11th (over the board).

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.dxc5 Bxc5 5.exd5 exd5 6.Ngf3 Nf6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O Nc6 9.c4 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Qc2 Nb4 12.Qb1

Now let the tactics begin 

12...dxc4

White can't take back or else his Queen is trapped.

13.Bf5 Qc7 14.a3 Nc6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 g6 17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.Qxc4 Ne5 19.Nxe5 gxf5

Risky - problably safer would have been to take back on e5.  White, after 8 minutes thought, blunders outright here.  He should have played one of the Rooks to c1 or something like Qh4, but instead:

20.Nd3?? Bxf2+ 0-1

Maybe your best bet is the Modern Defense.

And you try to tell me the following is dull...you are crazy if you claim dull here:

No one has suggested the Latvian Gambit?  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5!?  Theory is a bit dubious on it but it's a real opening that fits your "Old, Bold & Seldom Used" criteria.  If you wanted to specialize in it for blitz/OTB, and you have a thirst for wild attacking tactics, I reckon you could have some success with it.

Just looked at it Spiffe.  Reminds me of King's Gambit for Black.  Looks exciting.

The purposely didn't suggest the Latvian because in the mainlines Black just wins the pawn back immediately and loses a bunch of time with the Queen to avoid immediate colapse, very passive opening. (edit: here is a line from a random free database, most common continuation: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4.d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 Qg6 7. f3 Now White has two pieces developed and Black has made some moves with the Queen for some reason. Black does have a spearhead pawn in the middle of the board disrupting White's center except it isn't long for this world. The most common move given again is exf3. A glance at the board will tell anyone looking who is pushing who around in these lines though Black got the pawn back and might surely achieve a draw.) There are sidelines, Nc6 or something which are tricky, can be exciting and in the spirit of a gambit but they aren't any good if White doesn't fall for tricks. I had qualms about suggesting the Elephant too I guess but that one gives Black a lot of attacking chances for the gambit pawn. 

Be a pro and play the Alekhine.

Sorry I'm being too negative perhaps. If White avoids/doesn't know the mainlines you might get some crazy attacking chances with the Latvian too.