First recorded by Polerio in the late 16th century, this line of the Italian Game was extensively developed in the 1800s. Black's third move is a more aggressive defence than the 'Giuoco Piano', Black invites white to attack their F7-pawn with knight to G5. If white accepts the offer, the game quickly takes on a tactical character: Black is practically forced to give up a pawn for the initiative. The complications are such that David Bronstein suggested that the term 'defence' does not fit, and that the name 'Chigorin Counterattack' would be more appropriate. The Two Knights has been adopted as black by many aggressive grandmasters including Mikhail Chigorin, Paul Keres, Mikhail Tal and Boris Spassky.
Two knights defence - Introduction
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Two knights defence - Modern bishop's opening
The modern bishop's opening is the most common response to black's two knights defence of the Italian game at the masters level, this is a positional continuation, in which neither side gets any sort of significant advantage and both sides must follow opening and middle game principles. The game results in a battle of wits between players. It was first studied by the Spanish masters Ruy Lopez and Luis Ramírez de Lucena in the 16th century, it has since been used as both a surprise weapon as well as a staple in many master's repertoires.
Two knights defence - Modern bishop's opening
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Two knights defence - Polerio defence
The 'Polerio defence' is named after Guiulio Caesar Polerio, the leading Italian player from Lanciano. Polerio and Leonardo Da Cutri travelled to Spain in 1574 where they defeated Ruy Lopez and Cerone in match play. Many of Polerio's manuscripts still exists and show him to have been a judicious recorder of many of the important opening variations of his time. It is the second most common response to white's knight attack in the 'Two knights defence' of the Italian game.
