ECO C48 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 O-O

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

7. Nd3−0.30

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit (C48), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Nd3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.307. Nd3 Bb6 8. e5 Ne8 9. O-O d6 10. exd6 c6 11. d7 Qxd7
  2. −0.427. d3 d5 8. Bf4 Qe7 9. O-O Bd6 10. Nf3 Bxf4 11. Nxd4 dxe4
  3. −0.827. Nf3 d5 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. O-O Ng4 10. Qf3 Qd6 11. Qg3 Be5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Nd3 for White, continuing Bb6 8. e5 Ne8 9. O-O d6 10. exd6 c6 11. d7 Qxd7. Black is slightly better (−0.30). The next best moves are 7. d3 (−0.42) and 7. Nf3 (−0.82).
Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.30: black is slightly 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: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit?
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+).