ECO C46 · Three Knights Opening

Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Nf6

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

5. c3+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation (C46), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. c3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.605. c3 Bd6 6. Bc4 Nxd5 7. Bxd5 Be7 8. b4 Bf6 9. Bb3 d6
  2. +0.575. Bd3 Nxd5 6. exd5 Ne7 7. Nxe5 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. Nc4 Nxd5
  3. +0.495. Nxb4 Nxb4 6. d4 exd4 7. e5 Ne4 8. Nxd4 d6 9. Qe2 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. c3 for White, continuing Bd6 6. Bc4 Nxd5 7. Bxd5 Be7 8. b4 Bf6 9. Bb3 d6. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 5. Bd3 (+0.57) and 5. Nxb4 (+0.49).
Is the Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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 Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation?
C46. 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+).