Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense

Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense

Definition

The Anti-Fried Liver Defense is Black’s principal antidote to the Fried Liver Attack that can arise from the Italian Game. After the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5, instead of the hazardous 4…d5 5. exd5 Nxd5?! (the true Fried Liver), Black plays the more solid sequence 4…d5 5. exd5 Na5, immediately driving away the white bishop on c4 and avoiding the tactical minefield in which Black’s king is dragged into the center.

Typical Move Order

The critical tabiya appears after seven natural half-moves:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5 d5
5. exd5 Na5
6. Bb5+ c6
7. dxc6 bxc6
   Position after 7…bxc6: Black is a pawn down but enjoys accelerated development, the two bishops, and open lines for counterplay.

Strategic Ideas

• Temporary Material Investment: Black often remains a pawn down but tries to prove that the extra pawn on c6 or d5 is more liability than asset for White.
• Bishop Pair & Open Lines: The bishops on c8 and a5 (after …c6, …Be7, …O-O, …cxd2 in many lines) can become very powerful once the center opens.
• King Safety: By forcing White’s pieces backward, Black ensures the king can castle quickly, unlike in the risky Fried Liver proper.
• Piece Placement: Black typically plans …h6 chasing the g5-knight, …e4 kicking the f3-knight, followed by …Bd6, …O-O, and sometimes …Re8 or …Qg5 aiming at g2.
• White’s Options: White can try the “safe” 6. Be2 instead of 6. Bb5+, the slow d2–d3 setups, or the modern Polerio Gambit (6. d4!?), but the broad strategic battle remains the same: material vs. activity.

Historical & Theoretical Significance

• The line is centuries old—16th-century master Giulio Cesare Polerio recommended 4…d5 5…Na5, while the iconic “Fried Liver” name did not appear until the 19th century.
• Modern engines confirm that the Fried Liver (with 5…Nxd5?!) is objectively dubious for Black, whereas the Anti-Fried Liver is fully sound and remains common at every level—from scholastic events to super-tournaments.
• The line experienced a renaissance after Fabiano Caruana deployed it during the 2018 Candidates, inspiring a wave of fresh analytical work.

Illustrative Mini-Game

The following short game shows Black’s thematic ideas in action:

Black’s energetic play on the dark squares outweighed the extra white pawn, leading to a decisive material windfall on a1.

Common Traps & Tactical Themes

• Fork on e4: After …e4 Black often threatens …Nxd5 (forking c3 & f4 squares) or …Qg5 hitting g2 & e5.
• Back-Rank Tactics: The semi-open e-file can yield …Re8 skewer ideas against a white king stuck on e1.
• Over-extended Bishop: If White plays 6. d4?! too casually, …Nxc4 followed by …cxd4 leaves Black with a strong central majority.

Interesting Facts

• The descriptive Italian name for 5…Na5—Attacco Fegatello avvelenato (“poisoned liver attack”)—captures the same culinary metaphor as its English counterpart.
• Grandmaster So Wesley uses the Anti-Fried Liver in rapid & blitz to sidestep heavy booked lines yet still play for a win, boasting a performance of over 2800 in this opening.
• Because the position after 4…d5 is so forcing, many scholastic coaches teach the Anti-Fried Liver as children’s first lesson in forcing calculation.

Example Setup to Practice

Place the following position on a board and try to find plans for both sides (Black to move):

Further Study

Dive deeper by exploring model games from Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian, or consulting the chapter on Two Knights Defense in “Italian Game & Evans Gambit” by Jan Pinski.