Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack

The Knight Attack is 4.Ng5 in the Two Knights Defense, sending the knight straight at f7 together with the c4 bishop. Black must choose between the solid ...d5, the wild ...Bc5 counterattack, and the risky ...Nxe4, while White hopes to win the f7 pawn.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5
ECO
C57
Engine
+0.11 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,975 games in our lichess sample
White scores
59.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...d5 exd5, check with Bb5+ if Black plays ...Na5, then retreat Bd3 after the trade on c6.
  • Against ...Bc5, take on f7 with the knight or bishop and keep an eye on the f2 square.
  • Against ...Nxe4, Bxf7+ followed by d4 and Nxe4 leaves Black's king stuck in the center.
  • Keep the knight safe: once f7 is covered, it may need to retreat to f3.

Black

  • The main answer is ...d5, shutting the c4 bishop off from f7 at the cost of a pawn.
  • After exd5, ...Na5 hits the bishop and buys development time for the gambit pawn.
  • ...Bc5 is the Traxler: Black ignores f7 and hits f2 instead, leading to sharp play.
  • Avoid ...Nxe4 here: Bxf7+ and d4 leave Black's king exposed in the engine line.

Plans and pawn structure

If Black plays ...d5 and ...Na5, the game becomes a gambit: Black is a pawn down but gains time on White's bishop and knight. White's plan is Bb5+, Bd3 and a slow return of the knight to f3. Black wants ...h6, ...e4 and fast development, using the half-open b-file and the d-file. In the Traxler, both kings come under fire and calculation decides. Choosing the wrong reply here, such as ...Nxe4, hands White a lasting attack.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.11: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.11 4...d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6
  2. +1.28 4...Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Kf1 Qe7 7.Nxh8
  3. +1.91 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.d4 h6 7.Nxe4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,975 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.8%.

under 120060.0%
1200–159960.3%
1600–199957.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, play ...d5 and after exd5 go ...Na5, the soundest route. If you like chaos, ...Bc5 is playable but needs memory. Do not take on e4 with the knight, and do not recapture on d5 with the knight later, which allows the Fried Liver sacrifice on f7.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5. Its ECO code is C57.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.11 at depth 20, which is level. In 4,975 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.8%. A direct line for White players who like early pressure, and it punishes Black players who do not know ...d5 and ...Na5.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack?

White's knight and bishop gang up on f7. Black's best answer is ...d5 to block the bishop, accepting a pawn deficit for quick development after ...Na5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with Bc5 and Nxe4 close behind. ...d5 blocks the c4 bishop and is the only reply that keeps the game balanced without wild sacrifices.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.