ECO C46 · Three Knights Opening

Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6

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

4. d4+0.76

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense (C46), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.76).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.764. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8
  2. +0.394. h4 Nf6 5. h5 Nxh5 6. d4 d6 7. Bg5 f6 8. Be3 Bg7
  3. +0.304. Bc4 Bg7 5. d3 Nf6 6. h3 d6 7. a4 O-O 8. a5 Rb8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing exd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8. White is slightly better (+0.76). The next best moves are 4. h4 (+0.39) and 4. Bc4 (+0.30).
Is the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.76: 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: Steinitz Defense?
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+).