ECO C48 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4 8. O-O Qxe5 9. Re1 Be6 10. d4 Qd5

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

11. Bg5+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation (C48), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4 8. O-O Qxe5 9. Re1 Be6 10. d4 Qd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Bg5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5111. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Bd6 13. b3 O-O 14. c4 Qf5 15. Nxd6 cxd6
  2. +0.3611. Ng5 O-O-O 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Qg4 Re8 14. Bf4 h5 15. Qg6 Bd6
  3. 0.0011. Bf4 O-O-O 12. c3 Bf5 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Ne4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4 8. O-O Qxe5 9. Re1 Be6 10. d4 Qd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Bg5 for White, continuing h6 12. Bh4 Bd6 13. b3 O-O 14. c4 Qf5 15. Nxd6 cxd6. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 11. Ng5 (+0.36) and 11. Bf4 (0.00).
Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: white 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, Spielmann 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+).