Chess opening · ECO C46
Three Knights Opening
In the Three Knights, White answers 2...Nc6 with a plain developing move, 3.Nc3. The knight guards e4 and keeps every plan open, from a later d4 to a bishop on b5. Black is not forced into anything either. The most direct reply is 3...Nf6, which reaches the Four Knights, but bishop moves and a kingside fianchetto with ...g6 also turn up.
- Rank by weighted share
- #58 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
- 3. Nc3The knight develops toward the center and protects e4. White has not yet committed the f1 bishop or the d-pawn, so the next move can still steer into a Scotch, Spanish or Italian kind of game.
The knight grab on e5 after 3...Bc5
If Black puts the bishop on c5, White can take on e5 with the knight at once. After 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4, the pawn forks the c5 bishop and the e5 knight, so Black must give one of them back.
One main line goes 5...Bd6 6.dxe5 Bxe5. Material is level, and White now has the only pawn in the middle of the board, on e4.
Other ways for Black to develop
3...Bb4 puts the bishop on the knight that guards e4. The c3 knight is not pinned to the king, since the d2 pawn still stands between them, but the bishop can trade itself for that knight later.
3...g6 prepares ...Bg7, where the bishop backs up the e5 pawn and looks along the long diagonal.
Fork trick in action
3... Bc5 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Bd6 6. dxe5 Bxe5
White gives a knight for a pawn, then wins the piece back with the d-pawn fork. The trades leave Black's bishop on e5 and White's e4 pawn alone in the center, with most pieces still at home.
Top replies by rating
Nf6 leads every band, and at 2000 and up it holds a far larger share than anything else. Bc5 is second in all six bands.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.