Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack: what to play after Ng5?

In the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack (ECO C57), Black faces immediate pressure against the f7 square. The standard and mathematically sound defense is d5, which blocks the diagonal of the c4 and yields an engine evaluation of +0.00. Across 2.10M recorded games, this central thrust is the definitive response, while alternatives leave White with clear advantages.

The central counter d5

The primary justification for d5 is to interrupt White's coordination against the weak point on f7. Played in 1072.4% of recorded games (23M recorded), this move allows Black to fight for initiative at the cost of temporary material imbalance, with White scoring 54.0% from this position. An illustrative continuation given by engine analysis runs d5 exd5 Na5 Bb5+ c6 dxc6, where Black drives the bishop back and challenges White's piece placement.

The Traxler Counterattack and tactical tries

A sharper, highly tactical alternative is the Traxler Counterattack via Bc5, appearing in 178.9% of games (3.76M recorded). Against this move, the engine evaluates the position at +1.12, leading into the sequence Bc5 Nxf7 Bxf2+ Kf1 Qe7 Nxh8, where White scores 49.9%. Another attempt, Nxe4, occurs in 64.4% of games (1.35M recorded) with an evaluation of +2.44, leading into Nxe4 Bxf7+ Ke7 d4 h6 Nxe4 and a 45.5% scoring rate for White.

Inferior defensive alternatives

Other responses fail to neutralize White's immediate threats. The move Qe7 appears in 37.7% of games (792K recorded) but carries an evaluation of +2.15, with White scoring 68.3% following Qe7 Bxf7+ Kd8 Bb3 Ke8 Nc3. Similarly, Na5 is seen in 4.6% of games (96K recorded) and leaves Black struggling after Na5 Bxf7+ Ke7 d4 d6 Nc3, yielding a +2.62 evaluation and a 67.7% score for White.