Two Knights: Fegatello & Polerio Defence
Two Knights: Fegatello (“Fried Liver”) Attack
Definition
The Fegatello, better known in English as the Fried Liver Attack, is an aggressive gambit line of the Two Knights Defence that arises after the spectacular sacrifice 6.Nxf7. A typical move-order is:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Nxf7!?
White gives up a knight to drag the black king to f7, open the f-file and rip apart Black’s centre. The Italian word “fegatello” literally means “little liver” – the black king’s liver is said to be about to be fried!
How the Line Is Used
- By White – to seize the initiative, expose the opposing king and generate tactical chances. It is a favourite weapon at club level because inaccuracies by Black are often fatal.
- By Black – to test defensive skills. While dangerous, modern theory shows Black can survive with best play (e.g. 6…Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3 Nb4!).
Strategic Themes
- King Safety vs. Material – White sacrifices material for a lead in development and attacking prospects; Black grabs material but must weather a storm with the monarch stranded on e6/e7.
- Central Control – White’s immediate targets are e5, f7 and the diagonal a2–g8. Black fights to consolidate with …c6, …Be7 and …Rf8.
- Tactical Motifs – forks on g5–e4, discovered checks on b3–g8, and mating nets on f7/f8 are common.
Typical Continuation
The main line after the sacrifice runs:
6…Kxf7 7.Qf3+ Ke6 8.Nc3 Nb4 9.O-O c6 10.d4! – White regains at least one pawn and keeps the initiative.
Historical Significance
The idea dates back to 16th-century Italian romantic chess. It was analysed by Giulio Cesare Polerio and later by Gioachino Greco, appearing in countless tactical notebooks. Despite its perilous reputation, no top-level “refutation” has ever been found, making it a living museum piece of open-game tactics.
Illustrative Game
Adams – Torre, Internet Blitz 2020: White’s attack eventually netted two pawns and an end-game win, showing that even modern engines respect the compensation.
Interesting Facts
- The alternative Italian name “Attacco del fegato fritto” (“fried liver attack”) popularised both the culinary metaphor and the modern English nickname.
- Because of its uncompromising nature, some scholastic tournaments ban the Fried Liver for younger sections to encourage broader opening study.
Two Knights: Polerio Defence
Definition
The Polerio Defence is Black’s main theoretical reply that sidesteps the Fegatello tactics by immediately harassing White’s bishop instead of recapturing on d5:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5!
Named after Renaissance analyst Giulio Cesare Polerio, the idea is to give back a pawn (or sometimes two) for quick development and a safer king.
Purpose and Usage
- Purpose – prevent 6.Nxf7 by deflecting the c4-bishop and opening the a5–e1 diagonal, so that any sac on f7 is usually unsound.
- When to Choose It – players comfortable with dynamic equality and end-game skills often prefer the Polerio over sharper but riskier alternatives such as …Nxd5 (Fried Liver) or 4…Bc5 (Traxler).
Strategic Ideas
- Pawn Structure: Black doubles c-pawns (after 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6) but gains the semi-open b-file and prevents White from anchoring a piece on d5.
- Piece Play: …h6, …Bd6 and …O-O help Black centralise while White’s knight on g5 can become stranded.
- End-game Prospects: The bishop pair and healthy central pawns often give Black long-term chances once queens come off.
Reference Variation
5…Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6 leads to roughly balanced play.
Historical Notes
Polerio’s original manuscripts (late 1500s) advocated 5…Na5 as the cleanest antidote to the sacrificial lines being explored in Naples and Rome. centuries later, analysts such as Steinitz and Tarrasch confirmed its soundness, and today it remains the engine-approved main line.
Example Game
Caruana – Giri, Stavanger 2019: Black equalised comfortably and eventually won a rook ending, showing the line’s solidity at elite level.
Curiosities
- Engines evaluate the starting position after 5…Na5 at approximately 0.00, yet practical results overwhelmingly favour Black, suggesting the defensive task is harder for White.
- Because Polerio and the Fegatello are tightly linked, some databases label 5…Na5 as “Anti-Fried Liver”.