Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Nc3/3...Bc5
| Three knights game | |
|---|---|
|
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
|
|
|
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
|
|
| Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5 | |
| Parent: King's Knight Opening | |
3...Bc5
[edit | edit source]Black chooses to develop their bishop instead of developing their knight with 3...Nf6. Now, White can play 4. Nxe5, the centre fork trick. Black's knight was not really defending the e5 pawn because after 4...Nxe5 5. d4! wins back the material with a fork. Black isn't down material, but it's a small positional mistake.
Theory table
[edit | edit source]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5
| 4 | 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Knights Game |
Nxe5 Nxe5 |
d4 Bd6 |
+/= |
See also
[edit | edit source]
2. f4
King's gambit
King's gambit
2...exf4
Accepted
Accepted
Other
Declined
Declined
2. Nc3
Vienna
Vienna
Other
1. e4 other
- Barnes ?
- Borg ?
- Corn stalk ??
- Duras ??
- 1...b5 ??
2. c4
Queen's gambit
Queen's gambit
2. other
- Accelerated London
- Colle
- Levitsky !?
- Amazon ?!
- Blackmar-Diemer ?
- Mason ?
- Zurich ??
2. c4 other
2. other:
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox