Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C48, part of the Four Knights Game family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 18 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
4. Bb5 – White plays the bishop to b5
4... Nd4 – Black plays the knight to d4
5. Be2 – White plays the bishop to e2
5... Nxf3+ – Black takes on f3 with the knight, giving check
6. Bxf3 – White takes on f3 with the bishop
6... Bc5 – Black plays the bishop to c5
The line goes on for 6 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Four Knights Game
Both sides bring out both knights: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6. It is a classical, healthy opening that follows the basic rules.
White chooses 4.Bb5 (Spanish), 4.d4 (Scotch) or 4.Bc4 (Italian) style.
Black can answer 4.Bb5 with ...Bb4 (copying) or the sharp ...Nd4.
Watch the pin Bg5 on the f6 knight in symmetrical lines.
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