ECO C47 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Oldtimer Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bc4 Bb4 8. Qf3 f5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

9. O-O−0.87

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Oldtimer Variation (C47), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bc4 Bb4 8. Qf3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. O-O for White. Black is clearly better (−0.87).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.879. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qh4 11. Re1 N8e7 12. Qd3 b6 13. d5 Bb7
  2. −0.989. h4 d5 10. exd6 Qxd6 11. h5 N6e7 12. O-O Qxd4 13. h6 gxh6
  3. −1.259. Qd5 Qe7 10. O-O c6 11. Qf3 d5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qxd5 Bd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Oldtimer Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bc4 Bb4 8. Qf3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. O-O for White, continuing Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qh4 11. Re1 N8e7 12. Qd3 b6 13. d5 Bb7. Black is clearly better (−0.87). The next best moves are 9. h4 (−0.98) and 9. Qd5 (−1.25).
Is the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Oldtimer Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.87: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Oldtimer Variation?
C47. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).