The Fried Liver Attack
A ferocious knight sacrifice on f7 that has been terrorising unprepared players of the Two Knights Defense for centuries.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: The Fried Liver Attack is the opening that turned me from a casual player into a serious student of chess. The first time I saw Nxf7, I could not believe a knight could sacrifice itself so early and the attack would be winning. It taught me that initiative and king safety can outweigh raw material. That lesson has stayed with me for decades.
What Is the Fried Liver Attack?
The Fried Liver Attack, also known as the Fegatello Attack, is one of the most aggressive opening traps in chess. It arises from the Italian Game after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5, when White threatens Nxf7 with a devastating sacrifice.
If Black is not prepared, the knight lands on f7 with a fork on the queen and rook, but more importantly, the black king is forced out into the open. After Kxf7 5. Qf3+ (or other forcing moves), the king wanders through the center of the board while White's pieces swarm in for the attack.
The name "Fried Liver" reportedly comes from the Italian "Fegatello," referring to a style of cooking liver. The implication is that the defending player is being roasted alive, which is an apt description of what happens to an unprepared Black.
The Critical Position After Ng5
After 4. Ng5, White threatens Nxf7 and Black must respond accurately. The most common continuation is 4...d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 (or Na5), but if Black plays carelessly with 4...Bc5 or other passive moves, the sacrifice on f7 becomes devastating.
The key idea is that after Nxf7, the black king is drawn out of safety. With the king exposed in the center, White can launch a sustained attack using the queen and remaining pieces. The bishop on c4 is perfectly placed to support the assault.
After 4. Ng5 - White threatens the lethal Nxf7 sacrifice.
Main Line and Black's Best Defence
The main line continues 4...d5 5. exd5 Na5 (retreating to challenge the bishop) or 5...Nxd5. After 5...Nxd5, White plays 6. Nxf7 and the Fried Liver is fully underway. The king must take on f7, and White continues with 7. Qf3+ Ke6 8. Nc3, building a massive attack.
Black's best practical defense is 4...d5 5. exd5 Na5, attacking the bishop on c4. This forces White to deal with the bishop before continuing the attack, and modern analysis suggests Black can hold with precise play. Another option is 4...d5 5. exd5 Nd4, the Fritz Variation, which turns the tables with counterplay against f2 and c2.
At the highest levels, the Fried Liver is considered somewhat unsound with perfect defense, but at club level and below, it remains one of the most effective attacking weapons available. The positions are sharp, concrete, and demand exact calculation from the defender.
Fried Liver Attack FAQ
Is the Fried Liver Attack sound at the highest level?
Modern analysis and engine evaluation suggest that Black can defend with precise play, particularly with the Na5 line. However, the practical difficulties are enormous, and even titled players sometimes go wrong in these razor-sharp positions.
What if Black plays 4...d5 5. exd5 Nd4 instead?
This is the Fritz Variation, where Black plays the knight to d4 counterattacking against f2 and c2. It leads to extremely sharp play where both sides must calculate accurately. It is a legitimate and dangerous response to the Ng5 idea. Note that the Traxler Counterattack is a different line arising after 4...Bc5, sacrificing the f7 pawn.
How do I avoid the Fried Liver as Black?
The simplest way is to play 3...Bc5 instead of 3...Nf6, entering the Giuoco Piano rather than the Two Knights Defense. Alternatively, after 4. Ng5 you can play 4...d5 5. exd5 Na5, which is the modern main line defense.
Professor Archer says: If you play 1. e4 and your opponent responds with the Two Knights Defense, you owe it to yourself to have the Fried Liver in your arsenal. Not because it is objectively the best line, but because the positions it creates will teach you more about attacking chess than a hundred textbooks. Play it, study it, and learn when to sacrifice and when to hold back.
Quick Quiz
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5, what is White's main threat?
- Nxf7, forking the queen and rook while exposing the king (Correct) - Correct. The knight sacrifice on f7 is the heart of the Fried Liver Attack. It forks the queen and rook, but more importantly, it drags the black king out into the open where White can launch a devastating attack.
- Nxe5, winning the e5 pawn - While Nxe5 would win a pawn, it misses the much stronger Nxf7 sacrifice. The Fried Liver is about attacking the king, not collecting material.
- Bxf7+, a bishop sacrifice - Bxf7+ is a different idea and not as strong in this position. The knight sacrifice on f7 is the signature move of the Fried Liver Attack because it creates more forcing threats.
- Qf3, pressuring f7 from a distance - While Qf3 does eye f7, it is not the immediate threat. The knight on g5 is the piece ready to strike f7, and that sacrifice is what makes this position so dangerous.