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Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line: what should White play?
Best move
Nxh8+1.90
Your f7 has successfully forked the heavy pieces, and you must cash in immediately. By playing Nxh8, you remove the h8 from the board, securing a massive material advantage before…
- Games played
- 347K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +1.90
- Depth
- 22
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why Nxh8 is the best move
Nxh8! — The Only Good Move!
⚠️ Critical position — your
f7was under fire, and you didn't blink!
Why this is the only good move:
Your f7 has successfully forked the heavy pieces, and you must cash in immediately. By playing Nxh8, you remove the h8 from the board, securing a massive material advantage before Black can organize a counter-attack against your own vulnerable f2 square.
Why Other Moves Fail
| Move | Eval | Why It Fails |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | +1.43 | Allows Black to complicate with Nxd4, creating central tension. |
| b4 | -0.07 | A total collapse; Black ignores the wing and plays Bxf2+ shattering your King. |
| d3 | -0.29 | Too passive; Black simply plays Rf8 and your Knight is trapped and lost. |
The traps:
The biggest danger here is hesitation. If you try to bolster the center with d3 or Nc3, Black plays Rf8, and suddenly your "attacking" Knight on f7 has no escape squares and will be captured for nothing. You must take the material while it is offered!
How To Find The Only Good Move
Step 1 — Recognize the critical moment: Your Knight has penetrated deep into enemy lines. In such positions, the Knight is often "short-lived"—it must capture its target before it is surrounded.
Step 2 — Eliminate the traps: Notice that if you don't take the Rook now, Black's next move will almost certainly be Rf8, which defends the Rook and attacks your Knight simultaneously.
Step 3 — Verify the solution:
After the capture, be ready for Black to strike back in the center: Nxh8 d5 Bxd5 Bg4 f3. You remain up a full Rook for a Pawn!
📚 Pattern: The Desperado Knight. When a piece is deep in enemy territory and likely to be trapped, it must capture the highest value target available immediately.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 347K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nxh8Engine pick | +1.90 | 346K | 62% | |
| d3 | -0.29 | 809 | 49% | |
| Nc3 | -1.78 | 456 | 51% | |
| d4 | +1.43 | 268 | 57% | |
| b4 | -0.07 | 0 | — |
More positions in the Italian Game
- Best moved3Pawn d2 → d3Italian Game: Two Knights Defense93M games
- Best moved3Pawn d2 → d3Italian Game: Giuoco Piano82M games
- Best moveBc5Bishop f8 → c5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening21M games
- Best moved4Pawn d2 → d4Italian Game: Paris Defense18M games
- Best moved5Pawn d7 → d5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack2.10M games
- Best moveexd5Pawn e4 → d5Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack, Normal Variation1.67M games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line?
Nxh8 (+1.90). Your f7 has successfully forked the heavy pieces, and you must cash in immediately. By playing Nxh8, you remove the h8 from the board, securing a massive material advantage before…
Why is Nxh8 the best move here?
Your f7 has successfully forked the heavy pieces, and you must cash in immediately. By playing Nxh8, you remove the h8 from the board, securing a massive material advantage before Black can organize a counter-attack against your own vulnerable f2 square.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 347K times in the opening book.