Two Knights Defense
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| Moves | 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | C55–C59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Late 16th century | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Italian Game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym | Prussian Defense | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Two Knights Defense (also called the Prussian Defense) is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
First recorded by Giulio Cesare Polerio (c. 1550 – c. 1610) in c. 1580, the theory of this opening was extensively developed in the 19th century. Black's third move, attacking White's pawn on e4, is a more aggressive continuation than the Giuoco Piano with 3...Bc5. White’s most direct approach is 4.Ng5, immediately attacking Black’s vulnerable f7-pawn. David Bronstein noted that the term defense doesn’t capture the opening’s true character and suggested Chigorin Counterattack as a more accurate name. The Two Knights Defense has been played and analyzed by many aggressive players including Mikhail Chigorin, Paul Keres, and world champions Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky.