ECO C49 · Four Knights Game

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6

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

7. Bg5+0.29

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

Analyze this position

In the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation (C49), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bg5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.297. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 a6 9. Ba4 h6 10. Bh4 Qe7 11. Bb3 Na5
  2. +0.227. Ne2 Ne7 8. c3 Ba5 9. Ng3 c6 10. Ba4 Ng6 11. Re1 h6
  3. +0.157. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Ne2 d5 9. Nxe5 Qe8 10. d4 dxe4 11. a3 Bd6

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Ne2
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Ne7
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 Bg4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bg5 for White, continuing Bxc3 8. bxc3 a6 9. Ba4 h6 10. Bh4 Qe7 11. Bb3 Na5. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 7. Ne2 (+0.22) and 7. Bxc6 (+0.15).
Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.29: 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, Symmetrical Variation?
C49. 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+).