Win in 9 Moves Against the Fried Liver Attack [TRAPS Included]

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🔹 Most Common Chess Opening MISTAKE | Key Tactical Pattern - • Most Common Chess Open...
In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov shares with you a tricky chess opening variation for Black against 1.e4. It happens in the Two Knights Defense after the following moves: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6.
One of the main variations for White is 4.Ng5, targeting the f7-pawn, which leads to the Fried Liver Attack. You will learn how to counter it by playing 5...b5, which is known as the Ulvestad Variation.
This variation is so tricky that Black gets a lot of active pieces and a strong attack against the White's king. The most commonly played moves by White lose the game.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 Tricky Opening Variation in Two Knights Defense
00:54 Countering the Fried Liver Attack as Black
02:30 1) If White plays f3 to cover the diagonal
04:33 2) if White plays Nf3 to prevent Qxg2 checkmate
06:31 Can you find the winning moves for Black?
06:39 3) If White plays Qf3 to prevent Qxg2 checkmate
08:23 If White plays dxc6 instead of Bxb5
10:18 White's strongest response after b5
13:43 Beautiful finish to win the game
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[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@losriosprofundos2113]

I’ve been playing chess for many years and have watched many tutorials. Yours are simply the best I’ve seen. Thank you!

[@BobChess]

This is my new favourite gambit against Fried liver. Say goodbye to Traxler

[@ZaidZaid-rq8gh]

It's an old counter gambit and it's not sound!?

[@nevermind-wp3bf]

Traxler is funnier. The shock is much worse. 😂

[@icarusflying1814]

Your best bet is to mix it up. Play one X% and another Y%

[@michaels4255]

@@icarusflying1814 Nothing more fun than playing an opponent who prepared for your last surprise variation and then springing a second surprise variation in the same opening!

[@markchambers3833]

Well, the Traxler's garbage so I'm glad you've found something marginally better.

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

Regarding the puzzle, ...Rxg2 is crushing I think... In the case of KxR, ...Rg8+ (second Rook) If Kh1, that's ...QxN followed with ...BxQ#. If Kh3, then ...Qf5+ followed with ...Qg4#. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's the solution.

[@MajorAddiction]

Sounds good to me

[@Elvis.D99]

Exactly my thoughts

[@czarlguitarl]

ditto, great rook sacrifice into the mating pattern

[@ohnoitssean7117]

Thanks for the help 👍

[@michaels4255]

After KxR, ...Rg8+ is indeed the simplest way to win, but just for cat and mouse fun I think BLK could also play ...BxN+; QxB, Rg8+, but only if you enjoy tormenting your opponent before you finish him off.

[@jeffreybaffo6080]

Clear, to the point and very relevant to most amateur's play. Keep going!

[@alexanderlyon]

It worked! I used this the other day and White played almost exactly what you said they would! Thank you. Great video.

[@mattw2308]

Of course now I've learned how to counter it, I haven't played a single person opening with it. Love your videos, they're so helpful!

[@-_deploy_-]

Always be prepared my friend

[@dizzyblizzy2806]

Have it ready just in case but honestly as I climb the reading board I'm seeing fried liver less and less

[@michaelmassaro4375]

Funny because I used to see it all the time really kind of hated it made me panicky which is why I’m watching the video probably a couple of times so hopefully I can counter it

[@blueleafy7167]

People see a video on how to checkmate in a few moves so i think people around 500-1000 rating use this cause i see it all the time

[@fxmorin439]

From a player making a comeback to chess after a 10 years break, BIG THANK YOU!

[@rahaviggysegev274]

Great video. I finally got to use this today and opp. Eventually Resigned after he pushed the f3 pawn line to defend. Thank you! I don’t feel so helpless against the Fried Liver anymore.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Awesome! Rahav

[@kylebecker9]

Puzzle at 6:34 best move is Rg2. If white plays Rg1, then trade rooks and move your other rook over to Rg8 to continue the attack If white takes with Kxg2, then still Rg8 and it's mate in 2 If white plays h3 to get some breathing room, then Qf4

[@robethwilburfabriga7746]

before move rg8 i think bxn is better then if qxb then then qxq on f6 check. move for white is either rg7 blocking the queen then that;s the time for rg8 the only move left since white rook cant take black rook since it's illegal the queen is pinning the king then kg8 for black then qd1 check mate.

[@michaels4255]

If Rg1 by WHT, then ...BxN

[@yahsayajiyah3456]

​@@robethwilburfabriga7746 what is bxn bro?

[@hellfire2053]

@@yahsayajiyah3456 it’s bishop takes knight

[@BAMBAMBAMBAMBAM-]

​@@yahsayajiyah3456he means Bxf3

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Tricky Opening Variation in Two Knights Defense 00:54 Countering the Fried Liver Attack as Black 02:30 1) If White plays f3 to cover the diagonal 04:33 2) if White plays Nf3 to prevent Qxg2 checkmate 06:31 Can you find the winning moves for Black? 06:39 3) If White plays Qf3 to prevent Qxg2 checkmate 08:23 If White plays dxc6 instead of Bxb5 10:18 White's strongest response after b5 13:43 Beautiful finish to win the game

[@RosenR359]

Why castle? Just go queen f3 and after e4 go Queen G3

[@kerorosarge301]

6:31 is it really it rook takes g2?

[@plasticrap4577]

Thank you Igor for this very instructive video! I now have a great answer to the fried liver attack! I wish you many years of success!

[@davidlamarca899]

Very brilliant lesson...thanks for the brilliant informations👏💪

[@manojshirsat1864]

Fantastic video....thank you Sir

[@paquitoguillermo3279]

thank you for sharing your knowledge in chess

[@flacsomtodosclas2165]

6:37 Rxg2 if Kxg2 Rg8+ if king back to H8 Bxf3+ followed by Qxf3# and if Kh3 We play Qf5+ so Kh4 is forced and Qg4# wins the game and if the king dont take our rook and play a random move we can take the knight treding a discovered attack and if he moves the knight instead Rg3+ just wins the game

[@GodslimitlessGrace7]

What if after Rxg2 white goes to Rg1? Black may proceed with Rg8 butbthe game is extended a bit longer for white.

[@flacsomtodosclas2165]

@@GodslimitlessGrace7nope if Rg1 Bxf3 wins the game i also explained this in my commentary above

[@jantterig3]

Thank you for these incredible videos GM Smirnov!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you like them!

[@danielengelhardt7453]

Great video still my favorite chess teacher online. Thank you for all your videos.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you like them!

[@michaelchmela921]

Perfekt Video! Great presentation! I love it.

[@Lokeshkumar-3699]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge to us and once again thank you

[@toddtrimble2555]

Just amazing stuff. Some of the most inventive chess content to be found anywhere.

[@ruthxk7844]

Thanks for the video!!

[@beereaucrat3233]

Ive been using that Tennison gambit trap, guys have been resigning before I even put the full beat-down on them!! very effective!

[@rohitsuryawanshi8834]

you explained the full lines that what we needed 🙌

[@mazyzazie4048]

You are a marvel, both with analysis and in your method of teaching. I love it all, and it helps my games, though never enough, alas.

[@leewhitford2959]

Brilliant stuff again from Igor. Sarcasm for the white knight getting that far in his 'career' - love it

[@chessbulletschannel5889]

Thanks gm

[@claytonbenignus4688]

Using the Evans Gambit to neutralize the Fried Liver Attack is a wild idea. I love it!!!

[@grantjohnson5785]

I thought I recognized that pawn attack...

[@vinzenzkratzer210]

Great Video, Thanks!

[@anthonyjoevalen1]

Thanks alot!🙏

[@OmerTamer]

good variations to counter play the fried liver attack. thanks!

[@yuggothrecords]

Fantastic video and channel! Thanks Igor!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad you liked it!

[@AmanRaj-mb4kw]

This is my favourite channel where I really get to learn chess directly from Gm. Master plz do cover Catalan opening as well. I see GM plays that often times.

[@viktorvondoom9119]

Thank you Igor. I ended up with the position seen in 6:04. Although I did not manage the checkmate, I did manage to capture their queen, after which my opponent resigned

[@raymondtemme8721]

Really enjoying your videos!!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Awesome, thank you!

[@planetary-rendez-vous]

I can't believe how insane this Counterattack is. And how clever attacking is .

[@julitoireneojr9587]

Thanks!

[@prafulherode7819]

I just love the way you teach chess

[@rafaela.coutocabral8067]

Puzzle @ 6:39 ... Rxg2 KxR Rg8+ a) Kh1 B/Q xf3 and then M1 b) Kh3 Qf5+ followed by Qg4#

[@inflamare]

That’s a beautiful set of combinations

[@dfc8943]

thanks!

[@ingogoldbeck2886]

This is a absolute great, i never saw all these opportunities.

[@danielfetz589]

Your videos are amazing and I estimate you very much. Congratulations for this nice davide that will surely help me surprise my amateur friends who think that after the fried Liver attack black is unavoidably dead. Thank you so much😍

[@newyorkslim2001]

As usual, I love the spirited tone and attitude of these videos-makes me want to hop over to Lichess right away.

[@Averagebum21]

You should. And don’t forget to use the discount code RCA2023 to get a free pawn for every pawn that you purchase.

[@mrlucasftw42]

Beautiful!

[@paulmaul2186]

Good stuff.

[@jackneals5585]

This man deserves a trophy!!! 🏆

[@okamisansempai557]

Amaizing strategy, for black!🙂👍🏻

[@Lyapchev]

I had the opportunity to check the first variation in a bullet game. It worked! 😃

[@Stonewielder]

Great video

[@oliverf.4235]

As always great content. Your style became a lot better over the years.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

I appreciate that!

[@nestorguiyaan1661]

Hahaha thank you boss for this very educational tactics👍👏💪

[@viktorvondoom9119]

Nice sweater Igor!

[@michaelmassaro4375]

Finally the right video for the correct reply vs the fried liver this Guy is Great

[@flyingmonkey3822]

@6:30 Rxg2+ Kxg2, RD8 to Rf8+ KH8, Bxf6+ Qxf6, Qxf6#

[@deric2606]

I feel like my game has improved immensely due to RCA video, thank you so much GM Igor Smirnov your a great teacher.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Great to hear!

[@emilnuritdinov6922]

Thank you, Igor! How about this variation: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6 8. O-O Bb7 9. Qf3 e4 10. Qb3 Pressure against f7 loooks dangerous

[@bartek8945]

Great video as always! I think it is worth to note that in 6:12 after g2-g3 black has to play Qc6! B:d2 is a mistake.

[@soulsniperbs]

At 5:56, instead of taking the bishop could you take the knight on f3 threatening mate then qxf3 and Bxf3, and the pawn is pinned to the king threatening mate. Then if they stop the mate you can move ur rook

[@aljoschadenizjonsdotter]

@6:37 first thought (no additional thinking) Rxg2 with the idea that if white takes we bring the other rook with check and we just jemoved the defender of the knight without losing out on tempo. A fork is threatened and stuff happens. But I'm not sure whether it's "efficient" to sac a rook. Depending on your understanding of efficiency it may or may not be.

[@husainsid3628]

After rook to g2 then bishop to f3 queen captures then rook to g1 chek and mate in 2

[@sonipolakian4256]

I like video chess gm Igor Smirnov 👍👍👍

[@Jay-xu2sz]

whuch side castling is best ? king side or queen side , does it matter if you are playing white or black ?

[@itsadogproductions8654]

Really nice tutorial, thanks a lot. Always loved playing the Friend Liver Attack with Black but this opens up a whole new list of possibilities, great content as ever!

[@michaels4255]

The "Friend" Liver Attack? Is that variation where BLK says "Thanks for the material" and wins in the endgame?

[@itsadogproductions8654]

@@michaels4255 no, its when you stab a friend in the liver. On the downside their chess invariably suffers as a result, so not recommended!

[@user-by6bp3hh6h]

You are very best

[@coolclearfacts6105]

Exccellent video.

[@Loglen]

Great video! What do you play if White decides to take on f7 with his Knight at 1:30 ?

[@marlonanthony7668]

Since White's pawn on d5 is blocking their bishop, you can capture with your king safely

[@walkerb392]

The answer to that puzzle is to sacrifice "the ROoOKK..!!"

[@ansgwe7867]

7:13 The queen can sometimes go to b3. You do not want to attack knight over here it would be utter destruction for black since queen to f7 would eventually lead to white's victory

[@Chunda8]

First (at :13) I see that although the Bishop is hanging, nothing is defending that b-pawn. But if I grab it, I also lose my d-pawn. Can't do Qh5 becuse the knight covers it. If I don't go Bb3, I lose it. I could take the Knight on c6, but that opens that file for the Black Queen. Nf7 is a move, but my pawn prevents the Bishop from protecting, yet, the King is still flushed out and can't castle if it takes. If it doesn't take, I take the queen, or then pawn takes the c6 Knight with discovered check if it does.

[@georgekosinski8957]

In the Bf1 line, 10...Bxf2+ seems quite a gamble, as after 11.Kxf2 Ne4+, if White plays 12.Kf1, he doesn't get mated and has a substantial material superiority. I would worry about sacrificing the bishop unless White is very short on time. That being said, I love the idea of shocking my opponent with 5...b5!? I may use it in a must win game.

[@alexgarcia-ip3dj]

My oh my is games looks simple.. 🎉😊

[@techeteri]

Great video! I am annoyed by this field liver and will ruthlessly use the counterattack you suggested ;)

[@reggiereynolds6655]

Enjoyed your information that you shared here. This time it was understandable... It is true that Stockfish doesn't deal with human decisions. I'm sad also.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Glad it was helpful!

[@twitter.comelomhycy]

Liver King Dude got seriously fried here

[@flyingmonkey3822]

Puzzle @6:30 : Rxg2, if Kxg2 Bxe3+ (double attack to queen), And Qxe3 Rf8+, Kh1 Qxe3# Else Rxg2, Rg1, Rxg1 Qxg1, Qxe3+ now Qg2 is forced and Qxg2# bc backed by bishop

[@Elvis.D99]

Bro is coding a python program

[@garyclarke9685]

Yeah playing as black I always prefer to move the kings pawn two spaces even though I know what's coming still what you did by advancing that pawn 2 spaces to threaten the bishop I havnt tried before I sure will now. What I most like from this strategy is that white are on the defensive & open to attack so soon into the game it's brilliant

[@jamesdarnell8632]

Realistically, you lose more than winning, but eventually, your skill set improves and you start to win more. Igor has helped me greatly. After about 100 losses against bot Noam, I finally beat him today!

[@2kchi177]

😂@ 14:18 Queen side pieces are staring at king’s side, like “👀👀👀👀⁉️” Thanks for the lesson by the way. Subscribed. 💪🏽♟️🧩

[@DavidEmerling79]

(11:27) I think it's best to believe Stockfish when it says that one side is markedly better than the other. Having said that, Stockfish has a "computer defense" in mind that leads it to that evaluation. Objectively, Stockfish is almost always correct - that's why it can defeat Magnus Carlsen with relative ease. However! Humans often cannot find the "computer defense." This is what makes lines like this playable. Attacking moves are often easier to find than defending moves.

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

The winning move for the puzzle is Rxg2. If white responds with Kxg2, then Rg8+, Kh1 Bxf3+. White must sacrifice his queen, but it is for nothing, as black recaptures with the queen, delivering mate. If instead white responds with Rg1, black plays Bxf3. White must move his queen to either e1 or f1 to avoid capture. If e1, then: ... Rxg1+ (This is double check, so white can't take with the queen.) Kxg1 Rg8+ Kf1 Rg1+ Kxg1 Qg5+ Kf1 Qg7 mate If white responds with Ne1, then: ... Rg3+ Qf3 Bxf3+ Nxf3 Qxf3 mate If white ignores the rook and plays something else (c4, for example), then white can't prevent mate after black plays Bxf3.

[@androv2749]

puzzle -> QxG6 and then various variations all bed for white

[@kamranshafqat2053]

Interesting

[@ohyeahohyeah1071]

When the bishop takes on f2 to check the king (in quite a few variations), what if, instead of taking the bishop, king moves to f1 instead? Because now, we can't check the king again with our knight

[@saitamabeach2200]

After this massive attack there will definitely be teardrops, you can really hurt them, baby. /end silliness Great content btw, Igor!

[@arikgershon]

9:16 Here white could move f2-f4 instead of Nd7. It seems like a pretty good move. If black captures en passant, then Nxf3 and black is somewhat well defended.

[@nomankhan-kz4mg]

sir... why do not you made a video on traxler counter attack?

[@elaymisgav1879]

thank you very much love your videos! I tried online and after queen d5 my opponent played knight c3, cant find right move from there, i played queen g2 and he played queen f3, if i trade queens i end up losing a kinght, we played: i took kinght on g5, he took my kight on c6 with his queen and that was a tough spot for me

[@1996Rohitoo7]

In the last moment of the video where you say about artificial castling, what if the white bishop takes the black bishop and defend against the checkmate?

[@kennethchia]

Yes that would prevent checkmate

[@jacobcarrizales427]

I love this. The correct move against someone who’s never played against this is so unnatural. I generally avoid Nf6 entirely as black in these opening’s because I just don’t like playing the mainline. These are the sort of moves engines just don’t get. The “there’s only one good move and it’s hard to find” is much more effective than these 5 moves are slightly better than eachother we see in top engine lines. If you plug this into the lichess players database, more than double the amount of people play Bx instead of Bf1. 226k to 60k Definitely going to add this to the old repertoire. After going through the Bf1 lines just in case lol.

[@pengwingaming8641]

What if you play qf3 to block the checkmate and as you said push the pawn because you dont want to have a queen trade but what if the queen goes to Qb3 instead of Qe3 threatening Qxf7+

[@ccapmulanur]

Beautiful...❤❤❤

[@amazingcato5315]

Wow. This is a great defense against the fried liver.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😎

[@brendansherlock6442]

I started to watch these videos and now look back on games I lost were foredrawn conclusions. I think chess as a game must now change, a new board, new pieces, new piece layouts, to throw out rehearsed theories and return to skill in playing actual chess

[@hendarinfb]

What if on the 5th move, white Bishop goes to b3 instead of taking the pawn on b5?

[@akashnarayanraozol9871]

6:31- 1....Rxg2 2. Kxg2 Rg8+ 3. Kh1 Bxf3+ Forcing queen to capture and then Qxf3# 0-1

[@AP-eb8hd]

In the 3rd variation after white Qf3 and ..black e4.., What if white rook e1? guess, white will be only exchange down.. or is there anything more devastating?

[@pnachtwey]

I have a version of Stockfish 16 on my Mac that is good for practicing chess openings. After B5 why not Bxp pinning the knight? Yes, there are still a lot of exchanges but Stockfish still gives the advantage to white. Bf1 is safe and Stockfish still thinks white is ahead because of the extra pawn but white is still down on development.

[@janski1476]

I'm here as a fried liver player to troll the people who think they're slick looking up counters to my moves

[@johnauld4071]

What usually happens for me is I come up against a line all the time, research it, look forward to playing the counters... ....and then no one ever plays it against me again

[@CATUR070]

Trick bagus