I've played chess for many years but I am new to actually making any sort of
effort to improve my game :-) I'm reading about the 2 nights defence which
starts out:

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

The book states that a "popular continuation" is Na5 but I would have though
Nd5 would be a better option. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Michael

PS, i'm new to this group my apologies in advance if it's an old question or
inappropriate one.

"Michael C" wrote in message
u...
I've played chess for many years but I am new to actually making any sort
of effort to improve my game :-) I'm reading about the 2 nights defence
which starts out:

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

The book states that a "popular continuation" is Na5 but I would have
though Nd5 would be a better option. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Michael

PS, i'm new to this group my apologies in advance if it's an old question
or inappropriate one.



Hi, Michael!

Your fifth move for Black is a little bit ambiguous to me.
I'm assuming you are asking about 5. ... Nxd5 (note the capture)
and not 5. ... Nd4.

If so, White has two good ways to continue. First, 6. Nxf7!? is the
start of the Fried-Liver Attack. Not a forced win but Black
is walking a tightrope for many moves and any slip is usually fatal.
The main variation from ECO C, second edition is: 6. ... Kxf7 7. Qf3+ Ke6
8. Nc3 Ne7 9. d4 c6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxe7 Bxe7 12. 0-0-0 Rf8
13. Qe4 Bg5+ and evaluated as +/-.

White can also play positionally with 6. d4. If 6. ... exd4, then 0-0
or if 6. ... Nxd4 then 7. c3. White gets a lead in development with
open lines.

But really the important idea is that it is White who gets to determine
the course and nature of the game. As Black that's not what you
want!

My two cents! Hope there's responses from others.

Regards,
John

"John Sheatsley" wrote in message news:d0y5h.5581
Hi, Michael!

Thanks for the reply.

Your fifth move for Black is a little bit ambiguous to me.
I'm assuming you are asking about 5. ... Nxd5 (note the capture)
and not 5. ... Nd4.

That is correct! I spent quite a bit of time making sure everything was
correct in my original annotation (being that it's the first time i've
actually written it) but forgot to check the paragraph. :-)

If so, White has two good ways to continue. First, 6. Nxf7!? is the
start of the Fried-Liver Attack. Not a forced win but Black
is walking a tightrope for many moves and any slip is usually fatal.
The main variation from ECO C, second edition is: 6. ... Kxf7 7. Qf3+
Ke6
8. Nc3 Ne7 9. d4 c6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxe7 Bxe7 12. 0-0-0 Rf8
13. Qe4 Bg5+ and evaluated as +/-.

White is down 1 piece here but does look to be in a better position. I
haven't had much time to look at it too thoroughly.

White can also play positionally with 6. d4. If 6. ... exd4, then 0-0
or if 6. ... Nxd4 then 7. c3. White gets a lead in development with
open lines.

But really the important idea is that it is White who gets to determine
the course and nature of the game. As Black that's not what you
want!

So is it better to avoid the situation altogether much earlier if you're
black? The outcome in the book didn't look that great for black either.

Michael

But really the important idea is that it is White who gets to determine
the course and nature of the game. As Black that's not what you
want!

So is it better to avoid the situation altogether much earlier if you're
black? The outcome in the book didn't look that great for black either.

Michael

4..... Bc5
4 Nxf7 Bxf2+

is fun too, and it is black who leads

In article ,
"Michael C" wrote:

So is it better to avoid the situation altogether much earlier if you're
black? The outcome in the book didn't look that great for black either.

Naw. The 2N Defense is a great practical choice - black gets lasting
initiative for the pawn.

But that's assuming you play 5. ... Na5 and not the dubious 5. ... Nxd5.

This is a great fighting weapon. The truth is there isn't any variation
where black gets the initiative in all lines. In the 2ND, in addition to
4.Ng5, you've got 4.d4 ed 5.0-0 (which should be fine for black, but you
have to know what you're doing!) and 4.d4 ed 5.e5! where white keeps
more initiative.

-Ron

"Gerrit Tijink" wrote in message
...
4..... Bc5
4 Nxf7 Bxf2+

is fun too, and it is black who leads

I really like this sort of move (who doesn't!) but can't seem to get it to
work. I presume it goes:
4 Nxf7 Bxf2+
5 Kxf2 Nxe4+

but then the king has 6 choices. Being black, how do you get the advantage?

"Michael C" schreef in bericht
u...
"Gerrit Tijink" wrote in message
...
4..... Bc5
4 Nxf7 Bxf2+

is fun too, and it is black who leads

I really like this sort of move (who doesn't!) but can't seem to get it to
work. I presume it goes:
4 Nxf7 Bxf2+
5 Kxf2 Nxe4+

but then the king has 6 choices. Being black, how do you get the
advantage?

Hmm. 5 Kf1 is a serious possibility here, so white has 7 choices
Buy, beg, borrow or steal Gregor Cramer's 'Traxler-Gegenangriff.....'

If not, send me your move of choice. and we'll play

Gerrit

"Gerrit Tijink" wrote in message
...
Hmm. 5 Kf1 is a serious possibility here, so white has 7 choices
Buy, beg, borrow or steal Gregor Cramer's 'Traxler-Gegenangriff.....'

If not, send me your move of choice. and we'll play

Sounds like too good an offer to refuse but can we play 2? My first choice
is Ke3, my second is Kg1.

Michael

Send me, I said, sir. I do have an email-adress



"Michael C" schreef in bericht
...
"Gerrit Tijink" wrote in message
...
Hmm. 5 Kf1 is a serious possibility here, so white has 7 choices
Buy, beg, borrow or steal Gregor Cramer's 'Traxler-Gegenangriff.....'

If not, send me your move of choice. and we'll play

Sounds like too good an offer to refuse but can we play 2? My first choice
is Ke3, my second is Kg1.

Michael

"Gerrit Tijink" wrote in message
...

Send me, I said, sir. I do have an email-adress

I sent but no reply. :-)

Michael