You’re getting a whole game today, and it’s incredible to play out. The diagrammed position is the start of an amazing attack by Black. Kudos to anyone who can see it to the end. It’s just so much fun to see it was worth putting in today’s column. The game went this way: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Nxf7 Bxf2+ 6.Ke2 Nd4+ 7.Kd3 b5 8.Bb3 (See Diagram) and now what is your plan?

From Reinisch-Traxler, Prague, 1896 8…Nxe4 9.Nxd8 If 9.Kxe4 d5+ 10.Bxd5 Bf5+ 11.Kxe5 Qf6+ 12.Kf4 Bxc2+ 13.Kg4 Qh4# 9...Nc5+ 10.Kc3 Ne2+ 11.Qxe2 Bd4+ 12.Kb4 a5+ 13.Kxb5 Ba6+ 14.Kxa5 Bd3+ 15.Kb4 Na6+ 16.Ka4 Nb4+ 17.Kxb4 c5# You have to admit, that was dazzling! It becomes known as the Traxler Variation in Europe and the Wilkes-Barre variation in the USA for a club that developed it as well.

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