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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Nc3/3...Bc5

Three knights game
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b
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8
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5
4
3
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1
8
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5
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1
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5
Parent: King's Knight Opening

3...Bc5

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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

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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bc5

4 5
Four Knights Game Nxe5
Nxe5
d4
Bd6
+/=

See also

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v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open games
3. Bb5
Spanish
3. Bc4
Italian
3. Nc3
Three knights
Other
2...Nf6
Russian
2...d6
Philidor
Other
2. f4
King's gambit
2. Nc3
Vienna
Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian
1. e4 e6
French
1. e4 c6
Caro-Kann
1. e4 other
1. d4 d5
Closed games
1. d4 Nf6
Indian
1. d4 f5
Dutch
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox