ECO C48 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4

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

5. Nxd4+0.16

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation (C48), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nxd4 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.16).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.165. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. dxc3 Qe5+ 9. Be2 b6
  2. −0.135. Be2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. d3 Qc7 8. a4 Be7 9. a5 O-O
  3. −0.175. Bc4 c6 6. Nxe5 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8. Nf3 Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Nxe5 Qe7 6. f4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nxd4 for White, continuing exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. dxc3 Qe5+ 9. Be2 b6. The position is roughly equal (+0.16). The next best moves are 5. Be2 (−0.13) and 5. Bc4 (−0.17).
Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.16: the position is roughly equal. 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: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation?
C48. 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+).