Fried Liver Attack

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Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
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Position after 6...Kxf7

The Fried Liver Attack, also called the Fegatello Attack (Italian: "piece of liver"), is a chess opening. This colorfully named opening is a variation of the Two Knights Defence of the Italian game in which White sacrifices a knight as follows, for an impressive attack on the enemy king:

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Nf6
4.Ng5 d5
5.exd5 Nxd5

This move gives White a strong attack and is often considered to be a mistake. White can now get a small advantage with 6.d4, the Lolli Attack. The Fried Liver Attack is the more speculative knight sacrifice on f7.

6.Nxf7 Kxf7

(See diagram.)


Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Position after 8. Nc3

Play usually continues:

7. Qf3+ Ke6
8. Nc3

Black will play 8...Nb4 or 8...Ne7 and follow up with ...c6, bolstering his pinned knight on d5. White has a strong attack, but it hasn't been proven to be decisive. Because defense is harder to play than attack in games with short time limits, the Fried Liver is dangerous for Black in over-the-board play. Sometimes Black invites White to play the Fried Liver Attack in correspondence chess as the relaxed time limit affords Black a better opportunity to refute the White sacrifice.