But this is the GOTD, so I have an obligation to look at it. I might even play over the moves instead of just staring at the score.

Of course White can defend better, starting with 8. exd5 rather than 8. Qf3?! (Of course not 8. Bxd5?, Bg4 .)

From there, a plausible continuation for both parties is

8. ...Bg4 (perhaps even stronger is 8. ...Nd4)

9. Be2, Bxe2+

10. Qxe2 (better may be 10. Kxe2), Nd4

11. Qxf2, O-O-O.

Here, in his first moment of "peace" since move five, White has a multitude of continuations, mostly aiming at catching up in development or driving away the dangerous knight on d4.

Main candidates: 12. b3!?, 12. c3, 12. d3, 12. Na3, 12. Nc3, 12. d6?!.

To almost all of these, Black replies 12. ...Rf8. (Exceptions: 12. b3!?, Nxd5!, as 12. ...Rf8? loses to 13. Ba3; 12. d6?!, exd6, since other captures allow dangerous counterplay.)

Then White must: (a) move the king to g1 to avoid the coming discovered attack on the f-file, (b) move the king to e1 for the same purpose, or (c) sacrifice queen for rook in the hope of blunting Black's attack.

Without going into specifics in this post, Black's continuation is dictated by White's: If the king moves, the knight follows it to the same file; if not, Black does not exchange rook for queen on f3 (because this closes a file), but instead attacks the queen with a minor piece or pawn, forcing it to exchange on f8 if White wants to get a rook for it, and by recapturing on f8 with check, Black keeps the attack rolling.

How wild can this line get? There's a popular line where Black (who has already given up a bishop and a rook) also offers his queen — and wins, whether White accepts or not.

Did you read my post?

It was based on my own analysis from 32 years ago, when I had a silly notion of writing a book about the Traxler. My analysis is incomplete and may be flawed, but it is backed up by much subsequent analysis and practice, much of it in correspondence games.

The bottom line: The Traxler is a very dangerous weapon, and contains hidden traps and unsuspected resources that tend to appear at the most inconvenient moments for the first player; White is lucky if he can emerge alive; and if he is to do so, he is best advised to avoid the materialistic grab 5. Nxf7?!

If you doubt me, you are of course free to study the opening, look over some of the games played with it, and see for yourself.

Theory says the gambit isn't sound, but it says that about all gambits. What actually happens over the board, even in correspondence games, is a different matter.

Practically speaking, going into the 5. Nxf7?! lines of the Traxler is a spectacular way for White to commit suicide, and usually offer Black a good chance at the brilliancy prize into the bargain.