Chess Openings·Four Knights Game

Open Game

Four Knights Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6

Step through

6 / 6
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

Both sides start with the same shape, so whoever breaks it first carries the risk. One of the oldest and most trodden paths in the game. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4 · e5. Nothing has been captured yet. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
6 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
29
Minor pieces out
White 2 · Black 2
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/4p3/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 4 4

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…Nc6Black: Knight b8→c6
  5. 3.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  6. 3…Nf6Black: Knight g8→f6

Nearby lines

first 6 moves shared

Four Knights Game, Spanish Variation…Bb5Four Knights Game, Scotch Variation…d4Halloween Gambit…Nxe5Three Knights Game…Bb4Ruy Lopez…Bb5Italian Game…Bc4

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Four Knights Game?

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Open Game — Everything that starts 1.e4 e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 6 moves it is White to move.