Traxler Mistakes

An interesting miniature. I have never seen this one before, it is definately worth remembering!

Yes, I never fully studied those lines, when I picked up the Italian, because the club expert I was friends with said stay away from those lines that was in the early to mid 80's, plus they were complicated, and really above my level, I was only a beginner at learning the openings.

Granted new knowledge maybe out there now. If you do play Ng5, be prepared for fireworks, its definitely not for the faint of heart.

I would recommend beginners to stay out of that mess. True experts, might be ok using it, but beginners no way. Its way to complicated, and can get you into real trouble quick. As BatGirl's game shows, its a perfect example.

True, in the second game with 5.Nxf7 black is forced to play 7...d5.

I just now played this 5/0 Traxler.  Once again my higher-rated opponent couldn't find the right moves - in fact, he invited the attack by bringing his King out into the center.

Congrats on your win BatGirl, was this the same player BatGirl ? I really wish I would have known more about openings when I was starting out. Yeah I too had a rude awakening. Thanks for sharing BG.

This was a different player. The first opponent was about equal in rating; this one was 200 pts. above me  I wouldn't call it a particularly nice win since White just made the bad decision to bring his King to the center of the board. I think it's just a demonstration of how White often gets flustered and gets himself into these situations.  If White's going to introduce the Italian Game, he really should be up for this response.

I think its a nice win for you, and I agree if your opponent wants to play a certain opening variation, he should know what he's getting into. It shows you respect his opening more than he respected yours.

So imo, a very nice win for you. There are so many variations, unless you have a photographic memory to a high degree, its not that hard to not know a line fully, or even forget, plus that one is very complicated.

Thats why I was told to stay away from it. I used to really like the 2 knights as well, but it was natural, I didn't even know that it was called that back then, lol. I should have stuck with it instead of trying the Sicilian. But I was young, and ignorant.

I still played ( 4.Ng5 ) sometimes against my computer, with various results. Obviously depending on the lvl set.  Back then I did look at Ng5 as well, even after being told not to go there, well it didn't take me long to realize, it was too risky. There were numerous lines, and they were all complicated, especially for my pea brain.

Anyway when I started playing tournaments I was ignorant about the openings, if I could get to the middle game, I could give 1500's fits, and I did win more than I lost. Once again though I am no expert on any opening, even to this day. Its the weakest part of my game. Not that I am an expert in any phase, I am barely a novice if even that, my memory has lost some, I don't play a whole lot anymore, I still love the game.

Congrats BG, you deserve the win, your opponent was the one that had choice of opening for his side, and how he wanted to play it.

"Anand blundered in a totally winning position..."

So, if a future world champion can get lost playing against in this opening, even within the most advantageous line for White, why should any mid-level players fear playing it?

The answer is shockingly simple: because it's a bad opening.

That is one thing to say and another to assess.  Looking at chess.com database, in the total games played with 5.Bxf7+, White won 39, Black won 39 and 5 were draws (since 2000, White won 5, lost 6 and drew 3); in the Nf7+ line, White won 5, lost 48 and drew 5.
The Chessbase db is kinder to White showing a 52% win after 5.Bxf7+ and a 39% win after 5.Nxf7+.

Now the quality of these games aren't specified, but the indication seems to be that it's not quite such a bad opening in practical play.

Here, another world champion could only eke out a draw against such a bad opening. (In this line, chessgames.com shows 5 wins each for Black and White and 2 draws.

According to Stefan Bücker's Kaissiber #23, 5.Bf7+ gives White a slight advantage but also gives Black compensation, bu that an real refutation of the Traxler lies in  5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Ke3

Theory might be different since Gutman, Moll, Christophe and the unfortunate Bücker, but the theory, whatever it might be today, is rather arcane and little known. So, it all isn't so shockingly simple to me.

Actually Stefan Buecker thinks that the "refutation" of the Traxler is 5.d4, and has published some decent analysis.

And the Bxf7+/ Bd5 approach is no secret to anyone- factly it's recommended in almost any two knights source, say here:

http://chessbase-shop.com/en/products/two_knight%E2%80%98s_defence

richie_and_oprah, long time, no see!

"6. Bb3 gives white a nice pull"

I don't know, from most of what I've seen 6.Bd5 has the best results.

In his "Seven Ways to Refute the Traxler,"  Bücker gave  5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Ke3 as the first possible refutation and 5. d4 d5! 6. Bxd5 Nxd4 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Bc4 b5 9 Bd3 h6 10. Nf3 Ng4 11. Be3 as the seventh possible refutation.

For a more up-do-date review of 5.d4, look here:

http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/5d4-official-discussion?lc=1

You can't go by this when the sample is small.  If you look at the Danish Gambit where black takes all the way down to b2, white is winning about 53%.  Trouble is that it is only out of 51 games because the opening is not sound.  If you are up on your line, you should not lose to this.  It is good as a surprise for someone who has not recently studied it and can win, but it won't win against someone well prepaired like solid openings can.  When looking for a good opening, how often top players play it is more telling than win percentage.  It looks like you have done your homework and I am learning something here.  If there is a refutation here, I cannot give it to you, I just think that if sacrificing a piece so early were sound it would be discussed and played more.  Lines like this are fun and they can win.  But when I study the Danish, it is not to play it, it is only to not be busted by it.

batgirl, I like how you argue your points, by showing games like yours, the Karpov and Anand gamed and others. You're teaching me how chess moves are discussed. 

I just played a game as black with this opening and my opponent played 5. Nxf7. I didn't make the Traxler move, but I did win the game down a rook but ultimately up a queen with opponent resigning. I remembered this article and came back to look at it right after the game. Thanks. I'm going to remember that Traxler bishop next time I find myself in this situation. "...players...sometimes go brain-dead...", hehe, yes, esp when facing a 19th century type of swashbuckling move!