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Fried Liver Attack

Many players use this attack in their opening. Any
good player will spot it pretty quickly so
I am not sure why it is used so much. Although players
get caught off guard sometimes a little into the game
if the attackers keep lurking or the Queen gets involved.
My question is what is the best way to deal with the
bishop on C4 or C5 square. It is in a dangerous position.
Is it better to flush it out? Exchange bishops? Impede
its path to your F2 or F7 pawn? Or just monitor and continue with your opening.
This is the best way to handle the fried liver is by: 1. e4 e5 2. nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5. It is much better to play this than to go into the fried liver attack.
Continuation of the above: 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc bxc. White´s best answers are then either 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 or 8.Qf3 Rb8 9.Bxc6+ Nxc6 10.Qxc6+ Qd7. In both cases Black has better development and good counter chances as compensation for the pawn(s).
A ANTI FRIED LIVER

1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Nf6 Ng5
4 d5 exd5
5 Ne4 d6
6 Qxd6 Nf7
7 Qc6 Nxh1
8 Qxg2 Rf1
9 Qe4+ Be2
10 Nf3 #
I like the traxler counter-attack
Throws many people off-guard
Starts with Bc5 then Bf2+
Lots of resources on ECO C57 online. It gets played in the hope of an easy win or simply because it can be an lead to an entertaining game. It deserves playing based on the name alone, also called the Fegatello Attack (named after an Italian idiom meaning "dead as a piece of liver").
If you want to avoid the fried liver just play:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5

3..Bc5 (giuco piano):
and your opponent cannot play Ng5 because his knight would be en prise; moreover it a good developing move. Moral: if you want to avoid the fried liver, DON'T play the two knight defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6).

If instead you want to lure your opponent into play the Ng5 attack, you should be prepare to study this variants:

Classical defense to fried liver (I thik it's called Polerio defense):
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2

The great Traxler counter attack, which should be played by a very courageuous player:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+
the key is to answer Ng5 with a developing move, 4... Bc5 and to sacrifice your bishop on f7 with check and an attack. It's a bit complicated for a beginner though.

My advice: for now play 3...Bc5. When you feel ready and wiling to go into complications explore the other two options.

Cheers
I like playing against the Fried Liver. Especially when I play the Traxler. I have always had fun with the Traxler as I have memorized all the lines in it. If you want to play solid play fried liver "declined" (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6). Or just play 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 expect the Evans Gambit 4. b4.

Or if you want crazy try this line:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+

Taking the bishop is risky for white but it happens a lot.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+ 7. Kg1 Qh4 8. g3 Nxg3

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