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Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack

115K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

50.3%

45%55%
Floor50.0%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 50.5%.

Measured over 115K games at this level and clock.

Playablewins about as often as it loses at this level

Roughly even — the middlegame decides more than this opening choice does.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 115K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
115K
Best context
53.1% at 1800-1999 Rapid
Worst context
47.4% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Average game length
28 moves
Games that end decisively
97.0%
Draws
3.0%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Gambit BreakpointBlack

Peak: +5.0% · Breakpoint: 0-999

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It holds about the same all the way up, near 52.2%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999—
2000-2199—
2200-2499——
2500+———

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (18 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 51.1% expected score (2,685 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.8% expected score (3,094 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (2,426 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 53.9% expected score (24 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 40.1% expected score (54 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (5,136 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (7,268 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 47.5% expected score (3,739 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 47.1% expected score (68 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 37.4% expected score (66 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (6,097 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (9,641 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.5% expected score (6,068 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (127 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 52.9% expected score (51 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (6,248 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (9,571 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 48.9% expected score (5,693 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 49.0% expected score (231 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 64.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (5,895 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 53.0% expected score (9,158 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 52.9% expected score (3,967 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.1% expected score (191 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (4,664 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (8,425 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (2,664 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.9% expected score (69 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.6% expected score (2,948 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.2% expected score (4,415 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (962 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 43.9% expected score (23 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.1% expected score (1,802 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (1,051 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 49.4% expected score (176 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (234 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (13 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Italian Game
55.0%
Variations (5)
Italian Game: Anti-Fried Liver Defense
51.3%
Italian Game: Paris Defense
50.2%
Italian Game: Giuoco Piano
47.0%
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening
50.6%
Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal
49.3%
Continuations (3)
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Knight Sacrifice Line
49.6%
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line
53.1%
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, King March Line
43.1%
Analyze Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 50.3% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 50.0% and 50.5% — from 115K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
115K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games before we will say where it stops working. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 50.3% (range, 90% confident: 50.0% – 50.5%) for Black, based on 115K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack perform best?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack performs best at 1600-1799, where it scores 51.9% for Black (19K games). It tends to score less at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, Blitz (50.9%) outperforms UltraBullet (45.3%). Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack has a sharpness score of 97.0 (very decisive), meaning 97.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 28 moves.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 49.8% (range, 90% confident: 48.9% – 50.8%) for Black, based on 8.2K Lichess games. Average game length is 22 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 48.7% (range, 90% confident: 48.0% – 49.3%) for Black, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 24 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 49.3% (range, 90% confident: 48.7% – 49.9%) for Black, based on 22K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.6% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 49.5% (range, 90% confident: 49.0% – 50.1%) for Black, based on 22K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 51.9% (range, 90% confident: 51.3% – 52.5%) for Black, based on 19K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 51.8% (range, 90% confident: 51.2% – 52.5%) for Black, based on 16K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 51.3% (range, 90% confident: 50.4% – 52.2%) for Black, based on 8.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 51.3% (range, 90% confident: 49.8% – 52.8%) for Black, based on 3.0K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 48.8% (range, 90% confident: 43.6% – 54.0%) for Black, based on 247 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 45.3% (range, 90% confident: 39.5% – 51.1%) for Black (198 Lichess games). Draw rate is 1.8%.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 49.8% (range, 90% confident: 49.4% – 50.2%) for Black (36K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.0%.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 50.9% (range, 90% confident: 50.6% – 51.3%) for Black (53K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.3%.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 49.7% (range, 90% confident: 49.2% – 50.2%) for Black (26K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.8%.

What is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack scores 48.0% (range, 90% confident: 45.0% – 51.1%) for Black (733 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack a good opening?

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack is about level with a 48.2% (range, 90% confident: 48.0% – 48.5%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.