Four Knights Game

ECO C47-C49intermediate

The Four Knights, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6, is chess development in its purest form — all four knights out before any commitments. Its reputation for quietness is only half true: the Spanish Four Knights (4.Bb5) leads to subtle maneuvering where the symmetric ...Bb4 lines hide real venom, and the Scotch Four Knights (4.d4) gives White an easy initiative that has become a staple recommendation for improving players. A perfect opening for learning piece coordination.

Train as White Train as Black Explore all variations

Main line

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

A great way to begin! Your pawn steps forward to e4, a light square right in the middle of the board. Grabbing the center early gives your other pieces lots of room to come out and join the fun.
Black answers boldly, pushing a pawn to e5, a dark square in the heart of the board. Now both sides have planted a pawn in the middle, and the battle for the center is on.
White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move that helps get your pieces into the game!
Black moves their knight from b8 to c6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game.
You move your knight from b1 to c3. This is a great developing move, bringing your knight out to a better square where it can help in the game.
Black moves a knight from g8 to f6. This is a good developing move that helps bring a piece into the game.
White moves their bishop from f1 to b5. This is a good developing move, getting a strong piece into the game and ready for action!
Black moves their bishop from f8 to b4. This is a good developing move, getting a strong piece into the game.
The king moves from e1 to g1. This is called kingside castling. It's a good move because it helps get your king safe and brings a piece into play.
Black moves their king from e8 to g8. This is a special move called kingside castling. It's a good, safe move that helps get your king tucked away and brings a rook into the game.
You moved your pawn from d2 to d3. This is a safe, solid move. It opens a path for your other pieces to join the fight.
Black slides a pawn up to d6, a dark square. This quiet little step opens a path so the bishop on c8 can someday step out, and it helps keep the e5 pawn nice and safe.

Open the full annotated variation tree — free account

Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	30	66.7%	3.3%	30%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3
600-800	1,007	51.3%	7.7%	40.9%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
800-1000	1,430	54.1%	7.2%	38.7%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
1000-1200	165	57%	8.5%	34.5%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
1200-1400	1,664	55.2%	5.5%	39.3%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
1400-1600	1,595	53.6%	4.6%	41.8%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
1600-1800	174	55.7%	3.4%	40.8%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
1800-2000	210	54.3%	6.2%	39.5%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
2000-2200	325	54.2%	6.2%	39.7%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6
2200-2400	224	47.8%	9.8%	42.4%	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6

Most played continuations (1200-1400 rating)

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6:

Bg5 — played 53.4% of the time (White wins 55.7%, draws 6%, Black wins 38.3%)
Bd2 — played 10.4% of the time (White wins 49.1%, draws 5.8%, Black wins 45.1%)
a3 — played 9.4% of the time (White wins 56.4%, draws 2.6%, Black wins 41%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the Four Knights too drawish?

At grandmaster level the symmetrical lines can be sterile, but at club level the positions are full of life — and full of instructive mistakes to punish. The Scotch Four Knights in particular generates lasting pressure with simple, repeatable plans.

What is the best line in the Four Knights for White?

The Scotch Four Knights: 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 — White develops with small threats, plays against the hanging center pawns, and the plans (Qf3, Rae1, Ne2-g3) repeat from game to game.