Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack

The Traxler Counterattack, known in the United States and Britain as the Wilkes-Barre Variation, meets the Knight Attack by leaving f7 to its fate and aiming the bishop at f2. It first appeared in Reinisch–Traxler, Hostouň 1890. Frank Marshall, who claimed to have analyzed it first, later named it after Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The engine gives White a clear advantage, yet online results are close, with draws very rare.

The most popular reply, 5. Nxf7, forks queen and rook, but 5...Bxf2+ drags the king out. After 6. Kxf2 Nxe4+, 7. Kg1 and 7. Ke3, the King March Line, are the recommended retreats, and Black usually follows with ...Qh4. The calmest answer is 6. Kf1, which avoids further checks: after 6...Qe7 7. Nxh8 d5 8. exd5 Nd4, Black still has a dangerous attack, but 9. d6 keeps White ahead. Most modern masters prefer 5. Bxf7+, which wins a pawn without the chaos. After 5...Ke7, the bishop moves again, usually 6. Bd5, though 6. Bb3 and 6. b4 are also played. White is slightly better but behind in development, while Black gains the half-open f-file and the maneuver ...Qe8-g6.