theres a movie scene that epitomizes the traxler...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=471J3Ebtyj8
Is the Traxler Counter Attack a solid opening?
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The Traxler Counter Attack is an aggressive and tactical opening variation that arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5.
While it can be a fun and exciting opening to play, it is not considered to be one of the most solid or reliable openings at the highest levels of chess.
One reason for this is that after the common response 5.Nxf7, Black is forced to sacrifice a pawn with 5...Bxf2+. While this can lead to an interesting and dynamic game, it also means that Black is playing with a material deficit and must rely on quick development and active piece play to compensate.
Furthermore, if White is well-prepared and knows how to handle the Traxler, it can be difficult for Black to maintain the initiative and prevent White from consolidating their advantage.
Overall, the Traxler Counter Attack can be a fun and exciting opening to play, particularly at the club level, but it is not considered to be one of the most solid or reliable openings for Black. As with any opening, it is important to study and understand the ideas and plans behind it, as well as its strengths and weaknesses, in order to play it effectively.
Yes
i agree
Mar 23, 2023
0
#46
I don't think its really solid. Bxf7 really slows down the attack even if doesn't completely halt it. White has to do some natural moves after, to have a good game.
Lichess cloud analysis gives +1.7 to white. Thats not what you call solid. In comparison, accepting the Fried Liver is +0.9. Ulvestad is +0.7, Fritz variation is +0.8. Proper refutation of Knight attack is dead even.
Even responding with d4 is +1.0, still more advantageous than accepting Fried Liver. It should tell you.
Traxler only works if white is being greedy.
So, in an objective sense, it is not solid. But is it playable? I guess.
Deranged wrote:
I never play the fried liver (I play king's gambit instead) so I've never had to deal with the Traxler Counterattack.
But if I did, I'd probably decline the free bishop. I'd play something like this:
This is the best move you can play against the traxler attack. If this position is played correctly, You can get the advantage!
May 17, 2023
0
#48
Middlegame_coach wrote:
pfren wrote:
Gspkhabib wrote:
This is greedy white
Or a game between idiots- whatever comes second.
After 7...Qf6?? either 8.Rf1 or 8.Qf3 win outright. So it's all the same
The value of Traxler depends on the level and time control. White can get into serious danger if unprepared. However, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone above 1600 level. It might be still good in blitz even at a bit higher levels but it is risky. Definitely don't use more than once in classical OTB games which go to database.
molechess wrote:
The value of Traxler depends on the level and time control. White can get into serious danger if unprepared. However, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone above 1600 level. It might be still good in blitz even at a bit higher levels but it is risky. Definitely don't use more than once in classical OTB games which go to database.
It's objectively not very good, but I think people often underestimate it. I've analyzed the Bxf7+ line of the traxler quite deep as I play knight attack. I feel like even though white forces the king to stay in the center and wins a pawn, black can get a lot of counterplay if he knows what he's doing due to the open f file and the fact that white needs to spend time shuffling his pieces back. Granted, I feel like most traxler players at my level do not know what they're doing in the cases where white does not play Nxf7 and Kxf2.
Black draws rather comfortably after 5.Nxf7, but against 5.Bxf7+ or 5.d4 he has some serious problems to solve.
Well, stockfish suggests white gets a little advantage which still results in a draw at the end. Black would be very likely to be prepared with the traxler while white would mostly barely know the line and struggle to defend. So in conclusion, traxler is kind of gooood