Openings 1.e4 e5: open games
Four Knights Game: Spanish, Scotch and Italian Lines by Rating
Both sides bring out both knights. It looks dull, but the move order matters: White chooses between Bb5 (Spanish), d4 (Scotch) and Bc4 (Italian), and one of them walks into a well-known trick.
C47Four Knights Game
Games from this position (1600–1999): 45k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32% | 14k | ||
| 27% | 12k | ||
| 22% | 9,998 | ||
| 8% | 3,433 | ||
| 3% | 1,455 | ||
| 3% | 1,136 | ||
| 2% | 910 | ||
| 2% | 793 | ||
| 0.9% | 399 | ||
| 0.3% | 147 | ||
| 0.2% | 99 | ||
| 0.2% | 95 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 4.Bb5 is the solid main line; 4.d4 opens the center.
- 4.Bc4 lets Black play the fork trick 4...Nxe4!, so know what you are getting into.
- The Halloween Gambit 4.Nxe5 is a club favorite: a piece for two pawns and a big center.
Black
- Against 4.Bb5, 4...Bb4 (symmetrical) or 4...Nd4 (Rubinstein) are both fine.
- Against 4.Bc4, the fork trick 4...Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 equalizes at once.
- Against 4.d4, 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 is the simplest.
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Four Knights Game at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 70k2.3% | 4.Bc445% | |
| 1200–1599 | 75k1.3% | 4.Bc436% | |
| 1600–1999 | 45k0.7% | 4.Bc432% | |
| 2000+ | 14k0.7% | 4.d429% | |
| All | 204k1.2% | 4.Bc437% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Both bishops pin. Calm and equal; White often plays O-O, d3 and Bg5.
8,252 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 5% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4White opens the center; Black pins the c3 knight and pressures e4.
12k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 45%, 7% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4Black gives the knight back for a big pawn center and equal play.
12k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 37%, 5% were drawn, Black won 58%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5A piece sacrifice for two pawns and tempo. Objectively dubious, dangerous in blitz.
4,505 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 3% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4
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At club level
The Four Knights is a good “first opening” for White because the plans are clear. Most club games after 4.Bc4 are actually Italian Games, so it is worth reading the Italian guide as well.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- King’s Pawn Game: 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5
- King’s Knight Opening: 2.Nf3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
- Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
- Bishop’s Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
- Philidor Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6
- Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4