Traxler Counter Attack (Wilkes-Barre) Webliography

The Traxler Counter Gambit (a.k.a. the Wilkes-Barre Variation, due to Ken Williams's 1979 pamphlet based on games and analysis from his chess club in that Pennsylvania town) seems rather insane to the uninitiated: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5!? Like a lot of gambits, you have to see some games and try yourself to refute it before you will have any faith. Some recent online articles renewed my interest in the line and restored my faith that it would likely be worth some study, if I could find a spare month or so to do the analysis. NM Dan Heisman's CD (mentioned below) is highly recommended for the serious.

• Boris Alterman, "The Traxler Counterattack." The Alterman Gambit Guide, Black Gambits 2 (Quality Chess 2012): 89-172.  A great introduction to Traxler tactics for amateur players.  See Table of Contents for the rest of the repertoire.
• Stefan Bücker, Seven Ways to Refute the Traxler
  A useful overview of White's theoretically best lines.
• ChyssChess, The Traxler Counter Attack
  Some useful summary analysis of key lines, favoring Black.
• Alex Dunne, Thematic Tournaments
  Annotates an interesting Black victory against the 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bd5 line from a Wilkes-Barre Thematic Correspondence tournament around 1991.
• Meisterbrau, Traxler
  Some great games from a collection at Chessgames.com. These will make you a believer.
• Tim Harding, The Two Knights Defense: See the Wood, Not the Trees!
  Offers a little discussion of the main lines, but mostly focused on other variations.
• Dan Heisman, The Traxler Counterattack
  Order page from ChessCentral for Dan Heisman's CD featuring extensive computer analysis of the Traxler.
• John L. Jerz, Traxler Analysis
  Considers Black's best response to White's supposed refutations.
• Sylvain Ravot, Site dedie a l'ouverture Traxler (formerly at http://wwww.traxler.fr.st/)
  A nice French site with java boards and PGN downloads devoted to the author's favorite line.
• Roman, Wilkes-Barre (from the Archives)
• Wikipedia, Karel Traxler
  A nice historical intro to the Czech monk who analyzed the attack that bears his name.
• Maarten de Zeeuw, Another Look at the Traxler Gambit NIC Tearbook 63
  The first in an excellent series of articles on the Traxler in NIC Yearbook. Download before they disappear.
• _____. Another Look at the Traxler Gambit (2): 5.Bf7 Ke7 6.Bd5 NIC Yearbook 65
  Considered White's easiest line, it looks not so easy to me.
• _____. Another Look at the Traxler Gambit (3): 5.Bf7 Ke7 6.Bb3 NIC Yearbook 66
• _____. Another Look at the Traxler Gambit (4): 5.Nf7 Bf2 6.Kf2 NIC Yearbook 67
• _____. Another Look at the Traxler Gambit (5): 5.Nf7 Bf2 6.Kf1 NIC Yearbook 68
• The Real American Wilkes-Barre Variation, Two Knights Defense by Kenneth F. Williams (Chess Enterprises, 1979)

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