Chess opening · ECO C47
Four Knights Game
Symmetry defines the Four Knights Game: each side has a pawn on its fourth rank and both knights developed. Each center pawn is attacked once and defended once, so White's fourth move decides the character of the game. A bishop on b5 gives a slow, Spanish kind of play, 4.d4 opens the center, and 4.Bc4 points at f7 but walks into a known central trick.
- Rank by weighted share
- #93 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6
- 3... Nf6Black copies White's development, putting the king's knight on f6 where it attacks e4. The position is fully symmetrical, and both sides can castle short after one more piece move.
Opening the center with 4.d4
After 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4, Black often plays 5...Bb4. With the d-pawn gone, that bishop now pins the c3 knight to the king, and the pinned knight can no longer be trusted to guard e4.
White usually trades on c6 and protects e4 with Bd3. Black recaptures with the b-pawn, so the d-pawn can later advance to d5 with the c6 pawn behind it.
The ...Nxe4 trick against 4.Bc4
4.Bc4 looks natural, but Black can take on e4 with the knight. After 5.Nxe4 d5, the pawn hits the c4 bishop and the e4 knight together, and Black gets the piece back. The center opens and White's bishop no longer has a quiet post aimed at f7.
Spanish style with 4.Bb5
The bishop on b5 puts pressure on the c6 knight, the piece that guards e5. White can castle quickly and play d3 or d4 later, and the game often turns into slow maneuvering.
Scotch Four Knights main path
4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 c6
Both kings are castled and Black has a pawn pair on c6 and d5, plus a half-open b-file. White's g5 bishop pins the f6 knight against the black queen, and the d3 bishop points at h7.
Top replies by rating
Bc4 leads every band up to 1799. At 2000 and up d4 leads by a wide margin, while Bc4 drops to third.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Bc4 31% | Bb5 24% | d4 23% |
| 1200–1399 | Bc4 35% | d4 26% | Bb5 19% |
| 1400–1599 | Bc4 31% | d4 27% | Bb5 23% |
| 1600–1799 | Bc4 32% | Bb5 25% | d4 21% |
| 1800–1999 | Bb5 28% | Bc4 26% | d4 25% |
| 2000 and up | d4 48% | Bb5 27% | Bc4 11% |
Questions
Why does symmetry matter here?
Because both sides have developed the same pieces to mirror squares, White's fourth move sets the pawn structure. A slow bishop move keeps both center pawns in place, while d4 trades one of them off and opens files for both sides.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.