Four Knights Game (for White)

The Four Knights Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6) brings out all four knights before anything else. It is opening principles in their purest form: develop, control the center, castle. Ideal for learning, it is still played at the highest level.

The principle

Both sides develop symmetrically. White then chooses the plan: open the center with the d-pawn or pin the c6 knight with the bishop.

The main line: the Scotch Variation

4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 c6. The center has opened: White pins the f6 knight and eyes the king, Black has two solid central pawns.

Main variations

• Spanish Variation: 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7. A symmetrical maneuvering game where the pin on the f6 knight matters a lot.
• Rubinstein Variation: 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.dxc3 Qe5+ 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2. The queens come off quickly: an equal endgame worth knowing well.
• Glek System: 4.g3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Bd6. The bishop goes to the long diagonal.

Typical mistakes

With White, playing against the symmetry without a plan (rook-pawn moves that achieve nothing). With Black, copying White's moves for too long: at some point you must react in the center.

Coach's advice

The Four Knights is perfect for building sound reflexes. Remember the Scotch and the Spanish variations. Click the colored moves to follow each line, then ask me your questions.

Main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.Bg5 c6