Traxler Counter-Attack

Anything is refutable, if you know the theory inside out. But, the pertinent point is how many know the full theory(at the level one is playing and the format), then decide if its worth a try. I think traxler is a good surprise weapon as it is not very popular at any level. 

@pfren. I am intrigued by this 5.d4. So many possible responses for black. What is the main idea driving 5.d4 for white, and black not taking the offered pawn right away?

rest in peace The Backyard Professor . . . . . 

I would have to agree with pfren on this.  His videos are fun, but his lines are based on memorizing a lot of lines, which is not the way to learn chess.  Plus, those lines only work if your opponent "plays into it." I must have spent hours memorizing various lines on his famous Colorado gambit series, and after I played against this one guy, he found a way to just bust that opening by opting to push the pawn then later take it instead of leaving the tension there like GJChess "says he is going to do" apparently in his opening line.   Here it is e4 Nc6 Nf3 f5 e5 d3 exd3 and the line is busted the game is better for white here because it avoids his "mainline."  I did do better with that opening with a NM though, but I think when you are that good moves just come to you head and you win no matter what the other guy does to mess around with normal game play LOL.  I used GJchess opening repertoire of the Nimzovitch (the masters didn't opt for the Colorado gambit option they just took more space, but the non-master who is also good did, and it turned out to be a bust for the Colorado Gambit)  on two masters, and all it did was make me last a little longer.  GJchess openings are only good if your opponent plays into his opening theory.  Sometimes, that does not happen, and other times, even if they do play into it, sometimes, they do not fall for the tricks.  It's fun to learn chess tricks as a beginner but if your lines depend on huge amounts of memorization like this do, then I think it's just a waste of time, because those lines are not forced.  I mean your opponent is not obligated to play into the lines, he could go out of book, like the line I showed everyone here in the Colorado Gambit.  I always lose when he does this to me.

Yeah, I looked at this some more and opening up the black bishop is huge, including access to Be3 later on if need be. Now I need to find some good souls willing to play a dozen games based on that beginning to see how it plays out really :-)

The problem with the Traxler is the same as the problem with the King's Gambit, and to a lesser extent the Modern Benoni. White has a few different approaches, and all of them are good.

5. d4!?, 5. Bxf7+, and 5. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6. Kf1! are all good, and after 5. Bxf7+ Ke7, White has three good moves. But the move I would use if I knew I was facing a Traxlerhead is the simplest yet most potent one: 4. d3!

I don't quite understand, but I'm sure it's some long line. Researching.

Hi

I recently started playing the Traxler Attack (successfully, no losses yet). I think it's well playable against unprepared players, but only if you are very good at finding tactics! I like the Nxf7 variation as Black because it's the most dangerous continuation for White.

For example, this game (which isn't finished yet, but very soon probably):

One of my best games :-)

10...Nd7 places white under even more pressure since they don't get the time to develop.  Black even has the option of castling if need be to get the other rook into the attack.

What if 10... Nd7 11. Kf2

I don't see how to make any progress then...

11... Qh4+ I guess. It's a line where black obtains a draw by repeating moves. Conquistador knows it better.

This was what I wrote eight years ago for the theory:

9.c3?

Another error by white.

9...Bg4 10.Qa4+ Nd7 11.Kxf2 (11.cxd4 Qf6 12.dxe5 Qf4) 11...Qh4+ 12.g3 (12.Kf1 0-0-0; 12.Kf1 Qg5 13.Kf2 Qf4+ followed by 0-0-0) 12...Qf6+ 13.Ke1 (13.Kg1 Ne2+ and white will not survive) 13...Qf5 14.cxd4 Qe4+ 15.Kf2 Qf3+ 16.Ke1 Qxh1+ 17.Bf1 0-0-0 18.Nf7 Qe4+ and it is mate in 9.

The above line is a known anti-engine trap line since many engines will recommend the line if you head down the 5.Nxf7 variation and will not see the coming destruction because of the horizon effect.

Follow every post on this topic. I love the Traxler, as i won so many games with it. But, I think it is agreed by all that a booked up master White player will at worst end up drawing it.

But, the opponent has to be booked up. It just is so agressive by Black, and White has plenty of fairly plausible moves which lose.

Yes, indeed, it was already pointed out. In some situations (e.g. a game against a stronger player), 5. Nxf7 guarantees U a draw (if U are booked up, of course).

It's not only the horizon effect but also flaws in algorithms. Engines know about drawish lines but persist to neglect them cuz of better intermediate options.

Ok

I analyzed this for very long and I see, it's a good variation :-)

There was another thread on this a few days back where I was looking at this variation and didn't see 0-0-0 because I thought I was supposed to be looking for a draw so I went for the repetitions that were on the board. Thanks Conquistador for showing my error.