Exeter Chess Club: Steve Martinson on Four Knights' Game

Four Knights' Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6

 

t+lDjL-T
XxXx+xXx
-+s+-S-+
+-+-X-+-
-+-+p+-+
+-N-+n+-
pPpP-PpP
R-BqKb+r

Goals for White:

should avoid Bxf6 and instead play Nf3-h4 intending f2-f4; Bf1-c4 tempts ...d5 which would weaken Black's center; very drawish opening for White

Goals for Black:

must decide when to break symmetry; does NOT want to play ...d5 and should prefer a closed game; avoid blocking in QB

Common continuations:

4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 O-O 7. Nd3 Bb6 8. e5 Ne8 9. O-O d6

 

t+lDsTj+
XxX-+xXx
-L-X-+-+
+-+-P-+-
b+-S-+-+
+-Nn+-+-
pPpP-PpP
R-Bq+rK-
Rubinstein Counter-Gambit

 

4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3

 

t+lD-Tj+
XxX-+xXx
-+sX-S-+
+b+-X-B-
-+-+p+-+
+-Pp+n+-
p+p+-PpP
R-+q+rK-
Symmetrical Variation

 

4. d4 Bb4 5. Nxe5 Nxe4 6. Qg4 Nxc3 7. Qxg7 Rf8 8. a3 Nxd4 9. axb4 Nxc2+ 10. Kd2 Nxa1 11. Kxc3

 

t+lDjT-+
XxXx+xQx
-+-+-+-+
+-+-N-+-
-P-+-+-+
+-K-+-+-
-P-+-PpP
S-B-+b+r
4...Bb4 variation

 

4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. O-O O-O

 

t+lD-Tj+
X-X-+xXx
-+-+-S-+
+-+x+-+-
-L-+-+-+
+-Nb+-+-
pPp+-PpP
R-Bq+rK-
transposition to Scotch Opening, Four Knights' Variation
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This document (smop4.html) was last modified on 28 Jun 1996 by [cool blue cat]

Dr. Dave