Wilkes Barre is busted. 5.Bxf7+! (NOT 5.Nxf7) and 6.Bd5 is +-
Two Knights Defence, Wilkes Barre (Traxler) Variation
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It's good fun regardless. And really, who the hell knows the entire refutatory line? Not too many people. It's not like the game goes 1. e4 e5 2. nf3 nc6 3. bc4 nf6 4. ng5 Bc4 5. Bxf7+ 1-0. There's a lot more to it :P
Nov 14, 2013
0
#4
clunney wrote:
It's good fun regardless. And really, who the hell knows the entire refutatory line? Not too many people. It's not like the game goes 1. e4 e5 2. nf3 nc6 3. bc4 nf6 4. ng5 Bc4 5. Bxf7+ 1-0. There's a lot more to it :P
Yeah well, I refuse to put in the time and effort into a line that is busted because I end up playing in the open section in many tournaments as most local tournaments don't have an Under 2200 section, and that's what it would require for me to avoid masters as I'm 2094 right now.
So in my case, I'm sticking with what's sound, not what might work in some stupid 3 minute or 5 minute game.
Beliavsky beat Anand with it, so it's obviously playable...
In fact now that I think about it, I don't think there IS a refutation of it. Unless you know it?!
Some possible lines.
Nov 14, 2013
0
#8
clunney wrote:
Beliavsky beat Anand with it, so it's obviously playable...
The fact that one GM beat another GM with it doesn't constitute soundness. GMs are not robots. They don't know everything. Nobody knows everything. You ask me to explain Najdorf theory to you, forget it, I'm not a reliable source. But the Traxler, 5.Bxf7+ and 6.Bd5 is truly the bust to the Traxler. Black should play 4...d5.
I think you might be underestimating the Traxler here. Of course, moves other than 5.Bxf7+ and 5.d4 are just fine for black. But 5.Bxf7+ is fine for black to play if they are wary of move-order tricks (and white generally plays natural moves which tends to get them in some trouble). If you play the toughest variation, I would have to accept only a half-pawn's compensation at best. But busted? Only in the old main lines with 6...Rf8. Black has much better moves starting with 6...Qe8 against 6.Bb3 and 6...d6 against 6.Bd5.
In addition, white just assumes they are winning after 5.Bxf7+ and have no theory to help them avoid major mistakes. The black initiative arrives later than in the 5.Nxf7 variation about around move 15-20 which white does not usually see coming.
But at the GM level, this is all moot considering that 4...d5 is the best response for black overall going down the Polerio variation and not error with 5...Nd4 or 5...b5.
EDITED: 5...Nd4 not 5...Na5.
You should checkout BatGirl's article on this. Many moons ago my old computer recommended c3 as the best continuation on move 4 for white. I think it is better than 4.Ng5. I also think that if you play 5.Bxf7+, be prepared. I think Fischer liked Bb3 when he retreated the Bishop. However Pfren said chopping black's c6 knight is good as well, so Bd5 was also good, which I haven't studied, but I think it may be very good for white, because that knight can be serious trouble for white. BatGirl did a forum topic on it also. The Traxler can be very dangerous for white. Anyway You should definitely check out both the article, and forum topic on it done by her.
I recently played this opening as white, and I was suprised at the amount of resources black has at his disposal. What should I do against this opening as white?