FoxyChess › Gambits › Against the Traxler

Against the Traxler

White's answers to the Traxler, 4...Bc5, where Black ignores the threat on f7. White takes with Bxf7+ and must defend accurately against Black's counter-attack on f2.

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The idea

The Traxler, 4…Bc5 in the Two Knights, ignores the threat on f7 and sets up …Bxf2+ instead. White's two answers are 5.Bxf7+ (the safe choice: after 5…Ke7 6.Bb3 or 6.Bd5 White keeps an extra pawn and a sound position) and 5.Nxf7 (the brave choice: after 5…Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ the king takes a walk but White keeps the material).

What happens next

After 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 White should not try to hold the bishop: 6.Bb3 or 6.Bd5 and then d3, Nc3 and development, keeping the pawn. After 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Kg1 Qh4 the position is a tactical minefield; 7.Ke3 is the safer king move.

How to play against it

Black should be ready for both: against 5.Bxf7+ Ke7, keep developing with …Rf8 and …d6 and the king is surprisingly safe; against 5.Nxf7, the forcing 5…Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7.Kg1 Qh4 8.g3 Nxg3 is the main line and needs to be known by heart.

A key line

More lines

All 5 lines in this gambit

• 6.Bc4 Qe8 7.Nc3 Qg6 …
• 6.Bc4 Rf8 7.Nc3 h6 …
• 6.Bc4 Bxf2+ 7.Kxf2 d5 …
• 6.Bc4 Qe8 7.O-O d6 …
• 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 …

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