Aggressive Two Knights Defense for white

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GuAdRa678

I like to play aggressively and have used the Italian game as my main response to 1...e5. I usually play the Evans gambit against 3...Bc5 and 4. Ng5 against the Two Knights defense. While the 5...Nxd5 lines for white offer great attacking chances, it seems as though black's 5... Na5 gambit gives black all of the fun after my usual 6. Be2. Are there any aggressive lines for white after 5...Na5 or do I have to play something other than 4. Ng5 to play aggressively?

JM3000

Normally in the two knights classical is the black the side that has the dynamic chances, and white has pawn. You can view 8.Df3 it seems more aggressive that 8.Be2, the other option is change to 4.d4 and go to Max Lange attack or positions with the advance e5. 

NimzoRoy

I don't think there is anything objectively "better" than 4.Ng5, although the great Dr Tarrasch called it "a duffers move" and IM Panov referred to it as "primitive." Basically the IG and Two Kts Defense, along with just about every other Double KP Opening, are the reasons why the Ruy Lopez is played more often by White than all the other Double KP Openings put together. However, after looking at your profile I'd suggest you hold off on the RL for awhile and either stick with the IG or try something else like the Scotch Game for instance.

AND there are other ways to face The Two Kts Defense beginning with 4.d4, including the Max Lange Attack. Check them out and good luck!

GuAdRa678

Thanks for suggesting the Max Lange attack, NimzoRoy, as it looks very interesting.

Is there any specific reason that I should hold off on learning the Ruy for now? 

Schevenadorf

Problem is that the Max lange against two knights is fine for black if not sometimes consider slightly better for black.

Expertise87

How could Black be better in any Max Lange? Firstly Black can take d4 and then e4 once White castles, but this is basically a quick route to a drawn ending. If Black plays 5...Bc5 White has several ways to force a draw.

Schevenadorf

Not really a quick route to drawing, eg: 

NimzoRoy
GuAdRa678 wrote:

Thanks for suggesting the Max Lange attack, NimzoRoy, as it looks very interesting.

Is there any specific reason that I should hold off on learning the Ruy for now? 

Possibly not, but I think learning several other Double KP Openings first is a good idea. For all the GM RL games I've played thru over the last several decades (sigh) I haven't had much luck with it myself as White, so maybe I'm "projecting" my own major malfunction on you. Awhile back I asked for advice on me adopting something other than the RL as White after 1.e4 e5 and IM pfren recommended the Scotch Opening, so that might be worth looking into. 

The other problem with the RL, is that like the SD there's a zillion different openings/variations/sub-variations/etc you're likely to face; whereas openings like the Four Kts, IG, Two Kts etc have way less theory to learn - but still quite a bit, and they do offer fewer winning chances - IF you know what you're doing when you play the RL as White! SO, it's your call here...

bongclown

I sometimes play max lange in blitz, and end up in dull positions when my opponent is familiar with a line or two..i dont like to play the duffers move either, so i have no good idea about how to continue against the two knights. probably drop italian game completely.

Expertise87

11 Bf6? should be Nxd6 cxd6 12 Bf4 with a draw and here I've even find a nice white edge on 12...Qc5?! which is suggested by some sources. This is not a Max Lange anyway.

Schevenadorf wrote:

Not really a quick route to drawing, eg: 

JM3000

"probably drop italian game completely." The GM continuation of Italian Opening is the closed with d3, and the GM continuation of Two Knight is 4.d3. But this is far away of attack play. It is a slow postional strugle.

Agree with my books the Max Lange lead to a equal positions.  

NimzoRoy
JM3000 wrote:

"probably drop italian game completely." The GM continuation of Italian Opening is the closed with d3, and the GM continuation of Two Knight is 4.d3. But this is far away of attack play. It is a slow postional strugle.

BORING!

Schevenadorf

I seem to remember like 12...Qd5 being the move. I've beaten some strong players in this line as black.

Steelerrebel

f you would like to see the thoughts of a correspondence master on this subject, see http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Knights-A-Chess-Killing-Machine-with-an-Emphasis-on-4-Ng5-/271319251507?ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

Conquistador
Steelerrebel wrote:

f you would like to see the thoughts of a correspondence master on this subject, see http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Knights-A-Chess-Killing-Machine-with-an-Emphasis-on-4-Ng5-/271319251507?ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

Dude you have spammed this link on every Two Knights Defense thread.  Advertising much?