Go back
Two Knights Defense

Two Knights Defense

Only Chess

D
Up a

gumtree

Joined
13 Jan 10
Moves
5151
Clock
24 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by greenpawn34
4...Nxe5 leads to a concrete plus.

I wonder what it 'sees' when looking at 4...Bc5.
Whole books have been written about that variation.

Estrin gives 4...Bc5 20 pages and 4...Nxe4 gets literally one sentence.

It's has either found something against the Wilkes Barre/Traxler or
it has not run long enough. What does it like best for White.
5.Bxf7+ or 5,Nxf7 (or neither?).
It seems to have found something against both since both are given a fairly substantial plus for white. The difference between the two scores is not huge though but consistent so I guess the Wilkes Barre/Traxler lines appeal to a human but the machines like Nxe4. All the engines then like 5. Bxf7 for white, whereas all prefer Nxf7 after Bc5.

This is the result of just letting the engines run without doing anything. I'll try a little more interactive jiggery pokery to see if they produce a different result.

D
Up a

gumtree

Joined
13 Jan 10
Moves
5151
Clock
24 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Six hours of CPU time later and Nxe4 is still preferred over Bc5 and both are less popular than just letting the engines run in infinite analysis mode. As far as I can see the reason Nxe4 is preferred over Bc5 is simply that black has an extra pawn to comfort him in his dire situation.

E
Anansi

Woodshed

Joined
16 Apr 07
Moves
35523
Clock
24 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Here is a Traxler game from 1896 for those of you wanting one 🙂
Mikesa v Karel Traxler

greenpawn34

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
43363
Clock
24 Aug 11
2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Cheers. It's all interesting stuff.

That Traxler is very tactical. I suspect the horison effect is edging towards to
4...Nxe4 or does not no longer exist.

Perhaps the computer needs a Russian Schoolboy.
Not a joke. Play this one out. Imagine tring to solve it OTB.

The Readers of Pravda v Tal 1968-69

Basically it's Russia v Tal.
This game has a public health warning. Certificate X.
A fair few of of the Traxler mainlines are like this. (see the game above.)

E
Anansi

Woodshed

Joined
16 Apr 07
Moves
35523
Clock
25 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Cheers. It's all interesting stuff.

That Traxler is very tactical. I suspect the horison effect is edging towards to
4...Nxe4 or does not no longer exist.

Perhaps the computer needs a Russian Schoolboy.
Not a joke. Play this one out. Imagine tring to solve it OTB.

[b]The Readers of Pravda v Tal 1968-69


Basically it's Russia v Tal.
Th ...[text shortened]... Mate with Rg6 cannot be stopped. The Pravda Readers never got their Queenside bits out.}[/pgn][/b]
Good grief! Chess.

tvochess

Joined
08 Apr 09
Moves
20024
Clock
25 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by greenpawn34

[...] The Readers of Pravda v Tal 1968-69[...]
What a game!

It appears to have no opening and middlegame.

p

under your bed

Joined
10 Nov 10
Moves
22480
Clock
25 Aug 11
Vote Up
Vote Down

anyone know about the 3..Nh6 line?!

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.