ECO C47 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Plasma Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Ne5 7. f4 Ng6 8. e5 Ng8 9. d6 cxd6 10. exd6 Qf6 11. Nb5 Rb8

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

12. Qe2++1.09

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Plasma Variation (C47), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Ne5 7. f4 Ng6 8. e5 Ng8 9. d6 cxd6 10. exd6 Qf6 11. Nb5 Rb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Qe2+ for White. White is clearly better (+1.09).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.0912. Qe2+ Kd8 13. Be3 b6 14. O-O-O Ba6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. f5 Bxb5
  2. +1.0112. Be3 b6 13. Qe2 Kd8 14. O-O-O Ba6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. f5 Bxb5
  3. +0.1112. g3 a6 13. Qe2+ Kd8 14. Be3 b6 15. O-O-O axb5 16. Qxb5 Bxd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Plasma Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. d5 Ne5 7. f4 Ng6 8. e5 Ng8 9. d6 cxd6 10. exd6 Qf6 11. Nb5 Rb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Qe2+ for White, continuing Kd8 13. Be3 b6 14. O-O-O Ba6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. f5 Bxb5. White is clearly better (+1.09). The next best moves are 12. Be3 (+1.01) and 12. g3 (+0.11).
Is the Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Plasma Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.09: white 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, Plasma 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+).