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Scotch Four Knights

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 · C47

Part of Scotch Game

Starting positionWhite to move

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Two openings, one position

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The idea

The Scotch transposes into Four Knights territory once both sides bring out the queen's knight, mixing the Scotch centre with a classical piece setup.

Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5

What White wants

  • Watch how ...d5 and ...cxd5 repair the doubled c-pawns after Nxc6
  • Develop with Bd3 and O-O and aim for the kingside
  • Use the open e-file after the exchange on d5

What Black wants

  • Pin with ...Bb4 and challenge the centre with ...d5
  • Repair the structure with ...cxd5 and develop the remaining pieces
  • Free the position completely before White can organise

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

Two openings, one position

Nxc6 exchanges one knight from each side, so neither side gains a bishop pair. After ...bxc6 Black has doubled c-pawns, but ...d5 and ...cxd5 repair them. The resulting d5 pawn and open e-file matter more than a weakness that has already disappeared.

Common mistake

Planning only against doubled c-pawns after Nxc6. In the displayed line Black repairs them with ...cxd5, so White needs a new plan against the central pawn and active pieces instead of attacking an obsolete structural target.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1bqk2r/p1p2ppp/5n2/3p4/1b6/2NB4/PPP2PPP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 0 9

Analyze this position

Related openings

Scotch Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 · C45–C47White opens the centre on move three instead of building slowly, trading the e5 pawn for free development and a lead in the centre.Four Knights Game1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 · C46–C49Both sides develop all four knights before committing a pawn, producing one of the most solid and symmetrical openings in chess.Four Knights: Spanish Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 · C48White develops the bishop to b5 and Black mirrors with ...Bb4, combining Spanish-style pressure with the Four Knights' solid central setup.Scotch Game: Classical Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 · C45Black targets the knight on d4 with ...Bc5 and ...Qf6, forcing White to spend moves defending — the standard way to fight the Scotch.Scotch Game: Mieses Variation1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · C45White trades on c6 and then pushes e5, gaining a big space advantage and giving Black doubled c-pawns in return for activity.Scotch Gambit1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 · C44–C45White declines to recapture on d4 and develops the bishop to c4 instead, offering a pawn for a fast attack down the centre.