Two Knights Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 · C55–C59
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
Development challenges the centre
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
The idea
Black ignores the attack on f7 and develops instead — a challenge that says the pawn is not really en prise and White has to prove otherwise.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O O-O
What White wants
- Play quietly with d3 and c3 and let Black's activity come to nothing
- Or go straight in with Ng5 if you know the theory properly
- Keep the centre stable and exploit the slightly loose black knight on f6
What Black wants
- Develop actively with ...Bc5 or ...d5 and accept temporary material risk
- Hit back in the centre with ...d5 the moment Ng5 appears
- Play for piece activity rather than a safe structure
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Development challenges the centre
The knight on f6 attacks e4 while the c6 knight defends e5; it is not pinned by the bishop on c4. White can defend with d3 or attack f7 with Ng5, when Black must answer actively in the centre with ...d5.
Common mistake
Ignoring the pressure on e4 when choosing an attacking plan. Before moving the f3 knight or advancing central pawns, White should count the defenders of e4 and calculate Black's central reply; activity does not make an undefended pawn safe.
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.
r1bq1rk1/ppp2ppp/2np1n2/2b1p3/2B1P3/2PP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 2 7
Analyze this positionVariations
2 lines branching from here.
Traps in this opening
Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.