Introduction

The Perreux Variation of the Two Knights Defense typically arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5, or by transposition from the Urusov Gambit. Its name probably derives from the chess club of Perreux-sur-Marne (cercle du Perreux), just outside Paris, where it first became popular in the 19th century. Its sharp tactical themes are easy to grasp and make it attractive to beginning players, but it has also been played by masters who like that many lines lead to interesting endgame positions where good technique can win. As a forcing line, the Perreux Variation also has the advantage of limiting the number of subvariations, so the amount of opening theory is not large. Black is immediately forced to defend his f-pawn by either 5....Ne5 or 5....d5, and the material then breaks down into four main lines:

The Gambit Line The classical way of playing the Perreux variation is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Bb3!? h6 7.f4 (see diagram). White sacrifices at least a pawn in exchange for open lines. The main line generally runs 7....hxg5 8.fxe5 Nxe4, when White's best is 9.Qxd4, leading to a complex tactical struggle where both sides have chances.

The Main Line I call this the main line because there are a number of ways it can come about. The usual way is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Qxd4 Nxc4 7.Qxc4 d5 8.exd5 Qxd5 9.Qe2+ (see diagram). The line 5....d5 6.exd5 Na5 (or 6....Ne5!?) 6.Qxd4 Nxc4 etc. transposes. White retains at least a slight plus, but Black is not without chances with best defense.

The Lolli Attack Lolli originally conceived his attack as an improvement on the Fried Liver Attack, arising after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5, when instead of the immediate 6.Nxf7 Lolli recommended 6.d4 exd4?! (see diagram). The Perreux Variation transposes to lines considered by Lolli after 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5?! (see diagram). White has a winning attack after 7.O-O! Be7 8.Nxf7! or 7....Be6 8.Re1.

The Queen Check Black's best defense is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Qe7+! (see diagram). Though White has a number of ways of responding to the Queen check, best is 7.Kf1. White generally gains a pawn advantage to compensate for his King's placement, though he often must return the pawn to complete his development comfortably. Play is about equal, with chances for both sides.

The Gambit Line>>>