Traxler game

Game 4249007 Comments welcome, especially from resident expert on the traxler ih8sens

6. Kxf2? – Surely by now people would know not to do this! Kf1 is best for white. Ke2?! is also better but isn’t really that good in my opinion.

9. …Qxg3+ - Not everyone plays this move. It is best though, objectively speaking anyways.

11. …d5! – A very fun move. Congrats on finding it.

13. Kf2? – Losing for white rather obviously. Kg1 Probably drew.

13. … Ke7?! – Qh2+ isn’t as fun but it is better.

15. Qg1?? – Moving into mate.

Black had a draw from a very early point via perpetual check in this game... it was smart to keep playing, despite making 'blunders' in the process.

Good game. I enjoyed it. It's one of those ones an engine isn't able to judge fairly 😛. Go people!

Originally posted by Leaadas
Game 4249007 Comments welcome, especially from resident expert on the traxler ih8sens

matt, do you see what this thing has done for chess? whenever it works, black basically gets a hundred miniature Immortal Games...

Originally posted by rubberjaw30
matt, do you see what this thing has done for chess? whenever it works, black basically gets a hundred miniature Immortal Games...

lol.. it's a fun line. Probably sound, probably not winning. It seems to me that black can take a perpetual check at some point in just about every line. When white gets greedy it's beautiful. When black gets conservative it's ugly.

Originally posted by ih8sens
6. Kxf2? – Surely by now people would know not to do this! Kf1 is best for white. Ke2?! is also better but isn’t really that good in my opinion.

9. …Qxg3+ - Not everyone plays this move. It is best though, objectively speaking anyways.

11. …d5! – A very fun move. Congrats on finding it.

13. Kf2? – Losing for white rather obviously. Kf2 Probab ...[text shortened]... I enjoyed it. It's one of those ones an engine isn't able to judge fairly 😛. Go people!

Thanks for the comments, I figured you would like this. First time I have played the Traxler, every other time I was feeling brave and tried to my opponents always castled instead of playing Ng5 lol

6.Kxf2 is ok if you follow it up with 7.Ke3

9.hxg3 is a mistake, 9. Nxh8 is the only move here, then it's difficult for black to avoid a perpetual.

good thread!!

Two Knight's Defence & Traxler Counter-Gambit by J. Pálkovi arrived yesterday.
It is 255pp, of which 35 are devoted to the Traxler.
It does cover a lot of ground though, going through:

Chapter 18: Traxler Counter-Gambit: deviations (p.218-236)
1.e4...e5 2.Nf3...Nc6 3.Bc4...Nf6 4.Ng5...Bc5!?
(1) 5.d4?!
(2) 5.Nxf7?!...Bxf2+!
(2.1) 6.Kxf2
(2.2) 6.Kf1...Qe7 7.Nxh8...d5! (8.exd5)
(2.2.1) 8. ...Bg4!?
(2.2.2) 8. ...Nd4
(2.2.2.1) 9.Be2
(2.2.2.2) 9.d6

Chapter 19: Traxler Counter-Gambit: white plays 5.Bxf7+ (p.237-253)
1.e4...e5 2.Nf3...Nc6 3.Bc4...Nf6 4.Ng5...Bc5!? 5.Bxf7+ (...Ke7)
(1) 6.Bb3
(2) 6.Bd5
(2.1) 6. ...d6
(2.2) 6. ...Rf8
(2.2.1) 7.Nf3
(2.2.2) 7.0-0...d6
(2.2.2.1) 8.c3
(2.2.2.2) 8.h3?!
(notations by Pálkovi)

So this is probably the only resource you need to get started with the Traxler + a good database; chesslive.de has around 2250 games from 1.e4...e5 2.Nf3...Nc6 3.Bc4...Nf6 4.Ng5...Bc5!?

Oh - & don't forget to bring your brass balls too!