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Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line

330K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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5.Bxf7+
Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

54.4%

45%60%
Floor54.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.6%.

Measured over 330K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 2.5 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 330K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
330K
Best context
60.5% at 1000-1199 Rapid
Worst context
49.2% at 2000-2199 Bullet
Average game length
27 moves
Games that end decisively
97.5%
Draws
2.5%

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 BreakpointWhite

Peak: +14.3% · Breakpoint: 2000-2199

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 54.1% at 0-999, 61.4% at 2500+.

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: 38.5% expected score (29 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 56.1% expected score (4,555 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 56.1% expected score (3,525 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 57.9% expected score (1,851 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 61.8% expected score (24 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 58.7% expected score (143 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 57.3% expected score (11,054 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 57.1% expected score (11,657 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 60.5% expected score (4,063 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 54.6% expected score (64 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 52.4% expected score (313 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 56.0% expected score (16,495 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 57.1% expected score (23,521 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 58.8% expected score (9,384 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 60.7% expected score (167 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 58.1% expected score (129 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 54.7% expected score (19,581 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 56.2% expected score (30,205 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (13,384 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 58.4% expected score (496 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 56.7% expected score (21 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (18,997 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (34,021 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (13,331 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 59.1% expected score (599 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (16,005 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.4% expected score (32,499 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.8% expected score (11,558 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 54.2% expected score (401 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (11,093 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (19,565 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 53.4% expected score (4,692 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.6% expected score (104 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 49.2% expected score (7,174 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 52.1% expected score (6,869 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (889 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (1,225 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 64.6% expected score (291 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 59.6% expected score (9 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 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%
Analyze Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line 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, Bishop Sacrifice Line scores 54.4% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.3% and 54.6% — from 330K 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
330K+ 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 at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Playing the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line, White wins 53.1%, draws 2.5% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 330K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line performs best for White at 1000-1199, with an Expected Score of 57.7% (27K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 54.3% in Blitz (162K games) against 56.1% in Rapid (59K games).

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

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line has a sharpness score of 97.5 (very decisive), meaning 97.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 27 moves.

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

At 0-999, White wins 55.3%, draws 2.2% and loses 42.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.4%. It rests on 10.0K Lichess games, which average 21 moves.

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

At 1000-1199, White wins 56.7%, draws 1.9% and loses 41.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.7%. It rests on 27K Lichess games, which average 22 moves.

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

At 1200-1399, White wins 56.1%, draws 1.9% and loses 42.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.0%. It rests on 50K Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 54.8%, draws 2.1% and loses 43.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.9%. It rests on 64K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 52.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 67K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 51.2%, draws 2.9% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 60K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 48.6%, draws 3.3% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.3%. It rests on 35K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 48.9%, draws 4.3% and loses 46.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 51.1%. It rests on 15K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 51.5%, draws 4.7% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.9%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

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

In UltraBullet, White wins 54.0%, draws 0.7% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 644 Lichess games.

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

In Bullet, White wins 52.6%, draws 2.0% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.6%. It rests on 106K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 52.9%, draws 2.8% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 162K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 54.6%, draws 2.9% and loses 42.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.1%. It rests on 59K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 56.5%, draws 2.9% and loses 40.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.9%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

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

The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Traxler Counterattack, Bishop Sacrifice Line is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 53.1% of its games and loses 44.3%. It performs best at 1000-1199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.