Openings Four Knights Spanish Opening — The Most Underestimated Opening? Share Guy Cardwell October 19, 2020 — Article Under Construction — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 {[#]} {[%cal Gb1c3]} * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 3… g6 Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 3... g6"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/dD7N4awe"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2019.12.14"] [UTCTime "21:42:48"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C46"] [Opening "Three Knights Opening: Steinitz-Rosenthal Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 exd4 (4... Bg7 5. Bg5) 5. Nd5!? { [#] This is not just a trap. Even if black plays correctly, it’s an entirely sound move. } 5... Bg7 (5... h6 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nb5 $16 {[#]}{ [%cal Gb5c7,Gd5c7] }) (5... Nf6 6. Bg5 Bg7 (6... Be7 7. Nxe7 Qxe7) 7. e5) 6. Bg5 Nge7? (6... Nf6 {[#]} { [%csl Ge5] }) (6... f6 7. Bf4 d6 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4) (6... Nce7 { [#] Surprisingly, this is the only move. } 7. Nxd4 c6 8. Nxe7 (8. Nc3) 8... Nxe7 9. Qd2 h6 10. Be3 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. O-O-O Nxe3 13. Qxe3+ Qe7) 7. Nxd4 Bxd4 (7... Nxd4 { [#] } { [%csl Ge7] } 8. Bxe7 {[#]} { [%csl Gd8] }) 8. Qxd4!! Nxd4 9. Nf6+ Kf8 10. Bh6# * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 4… a6 Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 4... a6"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/a6SnT5Lv"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2020.09.08"] [UTCTime "16:56:13"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Ranken Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 { [#] Black thinks they are in a ruy-lopez, but this gives white some initiative. } 5. Bxc6! { [#] The typical four knights response to a6. } 5... dxc6 6. Nxe5 Qd4? (6... Bc5 7. O-O $16) (6... Nxe4! { [#] Is the only way for black to win back the pawn safely. } 7. Nxe4 Qd4 8. O-O {[#] White’s lead in development can cause problems for black } { [%csl Ge8][%cal Gf1e1] } 8... Qxe5 (8... Qxe4? 9. Re1 Qf5 10. Ng6+ $18) 9. d4! { [#] The e4 knight is immune } 9... Qd5 (9... Qf5 10. Ng3 Qd5 11. f4!? {[#] White tries to gain space on the kingside, other approaches are too slow. } 11... Bd6 12. Re1+ Kf8 13. b3 {[#] Both of black’s most important pieces lie on awkward squares }) 10. Re1 Be6 11. Bg5! {[#] It’s hard for black to develop } 11... Bd6 12. b3 { [#] White prepares c4 } { [%cal Gc2c4] } 12... O-O 13. c4 Qf5 14. Nxd6 cxd6 $14 { [#] The black queen is misplaced, and white has more space }) 7. Nf3! $16 { [#] Black is just down a pawn. } * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 4. Bc5 Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 4... Bc5"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/FT33JWjk"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2019.12.14"] [UTCTime "16:34:34"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 (3... Bc5 4. Nxe5) 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O d6 (5... O-O 6. Nxe5 { [#] Once again going for the center fork trick } 6... Nxe5 7. d4 Bd6 { [%csl Rd6,Rf6] } 8. f4 { [#] White has the extra option of the “double fork” because the knight is placed on f6 } { [%cal Ge4e5] } 8... Ng6 (8... Neg4 9. e5 Be7 10. f5 { [#] White still doesn’t have to capture the knight, because the f6 knight is tied down to defending g4. } { [%csl Gc8] } 10... d6 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. Qf3 { [#] }{ [%cal Gg2g4,Gg4g5] } 12... c6 13. Bd3 Qb6 14. Ne2 c5 15. g4 $36) 9. e5 Be7 10. exf6 Bxf6 { [#] White has more space on the kingside as in: Gallagher, Joseph G – Leygue, Dominique, 1-0, FRA-chT Gp-B, 2003, lichess.org/baltJ4Z6 } { [%csl Gf5][%cal Gf4f5,Gb5d3] }) 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 (7... Bxd4 8. Qxd4) 8. Nf5! Bxf5 (8... O-O {#} { [%cal Gc1g5] } 9. Bg5 { [%cal Gc3d5] } 9... Bxf5 { [#] transposes } (9... Ne5 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Bxd7 Qxd7 (12... Nxd7 13. b4 Bb6 14. a4) 13. Nf6+ gxf6 14. Qh5 { [#] checkmate can’t be stopped other than by means of Qxf5. } { [%cal Gh5h6,Gh6g7] }) (9... a6 10. Nd5 Bxf5) (9... h6 10. Bh4 Kh7 (10... a6 11. Nd5 Bxf5 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. exf5) 11. Nxg7 Kxg7 12. Nd5)) 9. exf5 { [#] } { [%cal Gc1g5,Gc3d5] } 9... O-O 10. Bg5 { [#] Nd5 or Ne4 is coming and black has no way to prevent the impending annihilation of his kingside } 10... h6 11. Bh4 Nd4 (11... Ne5 12. Nd5 $16 { [#] White will inflict doubled pawns }) 12. Nd5!? { [#] White “sacrifices a piece” but relying on the fact that the c5 bishop will end up trapped } { [%csl Gb5] } (12. Bd3 d5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nxd5 Qe5 15. Ne3) 12... Nxf5? (12... Nxb5 13. a4 Nd4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. b4 { [#] } { [%cal Ga4a5] } 15... c6 16. bxc5 cxd5 17. Qxd4 dxc5 18. Qxc5 $14 { [#] Despite material equality, Black’s king is unsafe and his structure is shattered }) 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qh5 Qc8 15. Bd7 $18 { [#] } { [%cal Gd5f6] } * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 4… Nd4!? Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 4... Nd4!?"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/fYKB4VGt"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2019.12.14"] [UTCTime "20:23:40"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4!? { [#] Black sacrifices a pawn for the bishop pair and an attack on the open e-file } 5. Nxe5 { [#] Leads to major complications, and requires the opponent to be very accurate in order to eventually reach an approximately equal endgame. However, it can be dangerous for you if you don’t wish to memorize it thoroughly. } (5. Nxd4 { [#] Is a much safer option } 5... exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 cxd2+ (7... Qxf6 8. dxc3 { [#] This is somewhat dry, but white has a lead-in development and the doubled pawns aren’t really an issue because black is unable to create passed pawn on the Queenside. } 8... Qe5+ 9. Be2) 8. Bxd2 $16 { [#] White gets a lot of initiative for the pawn } { [%cal Gd2c3] }) 5... Qe7 (5... Bc5!? { [#] black accepts being down a pawn and plays or activity } 6. Nd3 Bb6 (6... Nxb5 7. Nxb5 Bb6 8. e5 O-O 9. exf6 Re8+ 10. Kf1 { [#] Gledura, Benjamin – Lyell, Mark, 1-0, Budapest FS03 IM, 2012, https://lichess.org/AI2n7cfw }) 7. e5 O-O 8. exf6 Re8+ 9. Kf1 c6 (9... Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 {[#]}{ [%cal Gd5b6] }) 10. fxg7 { [#] white should give back the piece with in order to consolidate } 10... Nxb5 (10... cxb5 11. Nf4 Qf6 12. d3 Qc6 13. Be3) (10... Qh4 11. h3 {[#]}{ [%csl Rg4][%cal Gc8g4] } 11... d5 {[#]}{ [%cal Gf1g1,Gg1h2] } (11... d6 12. a4 {[#] is played to harass to bishop on b6 } { [%cal Ga4a5] } 12... cxb5 13. a5 Bc5 (13... Bc7 14. Nd5) 14. b4) 12. Nxd5 {[#]}{ [%cal Gb5e8] }) 11. Nxb5 cxb5 12. Nf4 { [#] Black is burdened with long term weaknesses and his attack is dissapating } { [%csl Gd3,Rd7,Rf7,Rh7][%cal Gd2d3] } 12... d5 13. d4 Bf5 14. c3 {[#]}{ [%cal Gc1e3,Gd1f3] }) (5... Nxb5? 6. Nxb5 c6 (6... Qe7 7. Nxc7+ Kd8 8. Nxa8 Qxe5 9. O-O (9. d3)) 7. Nc3 Qe7 8. Nf3 Nxe4 9. O-O $16 { [#] }{ [%csl Gf8,Gc8,Ge7] } 9... Nxc3 10. dxc3 {[#]}{ [%cal Gf1e1] } 10... d5 11. Bg5) 6. f4 Nxb5 7. Nxb5 {[#]}{ [%csl Ge1][%cal Ge7c7] } 7... d6 8. Nf3 Qxe4+ { [#] }{ [%csl Gb5] } 9. Kf2!? { [#] Black has to deal with 2 threats. Nc7 and Re1 } { [%cal Gh1e1,Gb5c7] } 9... Ng4+ (9... Be6 10. Nxc7+ {[#] [%cal Gc7a8,Gc7d8] }) (9... Qc6 10. Re1+ Be7 {[#]}{ [%cal Gd2d4] } 11. a4) (9... Qc4 { [#] Has been played a couple times recently } 10. Re1+ Be6 11. a4 O-O-O 12. Nxa7+ Kb8 13. Nb5) 10. Kg3 Qg6 $7 {[#]}{ [%csl Rg3,Re8] } (10... Qc6 11. Qe2+ Be7 12. Re1 Qd7 13. Qxe7+! Qxe7 14. Nxc7+ Kd8 15. Rxe7 Kxe7 16. Nxa8 $18) 11. Nh4 {[#]}{ [%csl Gg6] } 11... Qf6 (11... Qh5? 12. Nxc7+ Kd8 13. h3 Kxc7 14. hxg4) 12. h3! (12. Nxc7+?? Kd8 13. Nxa8 {[#]}{ [%csl Gf4] } 13... g5! {[#]}{ [%cal Gf4g5,Gf6f2,Gg5h4] }) 12... g5 13. Qe2+ {[#]}{ [%cal Gf4g5,Gh3g4] } 13... Ne5 $7 (13... Be7? 14. fxg5 Qxg5 15. hxg4) 14. Nf3 { [#] The piece is immune from capture } (14. fxe5?? Qf4#) 14... gxf4+! (14... Qxf4+?! 15. Kf2 {[#]}{ [%cal Gc1g5,Gb5c7] } 15... g4 16. d4 (16. hxg4) 16... gxf3 17. Bxf4 fxe2 18. dxe5 Kd7 19. exd6 cxd6 $14 {[#] White has a lead in development. Black has a weak king, and a weak pawn. }) 15. Kh2 {[#] The white king is actually suprising safe here, and threats of d4 are looming } 15... Kd8 (15... Qe7 16. Nxc7+ Qxc7 17. d4) 16. d4 Nxf3+ (16... Ng6 {[#]}{ [%cal Gh1e1] } 17. Re1 Bh6) 17. Qxf3 Qg5 {[#]}{ [%csl Gb5] } (17... Rg8 18. Bxf4) 18. Qxf4 {[#]}{ [%cal Gf4f6] } 18... Qxf4+ $10 * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 4. Bd6 Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 4. Bd6"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/ZNlnVVea"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2020.07.26"] [UTCTime "20:11:46"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. d3 { [#] It’s important not to try and “refute” Bd6 by playing 5. d4. } 5... O-O (5... a6 6. Ba4 h6 7. a3) (5... Nd4 6. Nxd4 exd4 7. Ne2) (5... h6 6. a3 a6 7. Bc4 O-O (7... Bc5 8. Be3 d6 (8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O (9... d6) 10. g4) 9. Bxc5 dxc5 10. h3) 8. g4) 6. a3 { [#] This is a useful waiting move. White wants to delay a bit until black commits to castling/playing h6. } 6... Re8 (6... a6 7. Bc4 Bc5 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 (9... Be7) 10. Nxg5) (6... h6 7. g4 Nd4 (7... Nxg4 8. Rg1 Nf6 9. Bxh6) 8. g5 hxg5 9. Bxg5) 7. g4 { [#] Is not quite as strong as against h6, because white has no hook. However, this is still entirely playable. } 7... Bc5 (7... a6 8. Bc4) (7... Nxg4 8. Rg1 Nf6) 8. Bxc6 { [#] is an important insertion to prevent the future Nd4 } (8. g5 Ng4 9. O-O) 8... dxc6 9. g5 Ng4 10. Rf1 Be6 (10... Qd7 11. Qe2) 11. Qe2 { [#] White prepares to trap the knight, and win material. } { [%csl Ge3][%cal Gc1e3,Gh2h3] } * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization. 4… Be7 and 4… d6 Click to see variation [Event "Four Knights Spanish: 4... Be7 and 4... d6"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/X6bIwcMz/FSdehyht"] [Result "*"] [UTCDate "2019.12.14"] [UTCTime "16:31:50"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C48"] [Opening "Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Guy99"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Be7 { [#] This will almost certainly transpose to 4… d6 } { [%cal Gd7d6,Gf8e7] } (4... d6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. O-O { [#] Castling first is an important insertion to rid black of options to go g6. } 7... Nxd4 { [#] Is the independent line } (7... Be7 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bd3 { [#] transposes }) 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. Qxd4 { [#] It’s clear white has more active pieces } 9... Be7 10. Bg5 {[#]}{ [%cal Gf1e1,Ga1d1] }) 5. O-O d6 6. d4 {[#]}{ [%cal Gd2d4] } 6... exd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 {[#]}{ [%cal Gd4c6] } 8. Nxc6 bxc6 (8... Bxc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 {[#]}{ [%cal Gb2b3,Gc1b2,Gf2f4,Gd1f3] }) 9. Bd3 {[#]}{ [%cal Gd1f3,Gb2b3,Gc1b2,Gd6d5,Ge4e5,Gf2f4] } 9... O-O 10. f4 {[#] White makes his intentions on the kingside clear } 10... d5 (10... Bg4 11. Qe1) (10... Qb8) (10... Re8 11. Qf3 {[#]}{ [%cal Gb2b3,Gc1b2] } 11... Bg4) (10... Bc8 { [#] Is an attempt to regroup for black } 11. b3 Nd7 12. Bb2 Bf6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Ne4! exf4 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Rxf4 { [#] With a big initiative for white }) 11. e5 Ng4 (11... Bc5+ 12. Kh1 Ng4 13. Qf3 (13. Qe1 { [#] [%csl Gh3][%cal Gd8h4,Gg4h6] }) 13... Qh4) 12. Qe1! { [#] Key move! White defends the f2 square from Bc5+ and Nf2, while also keeping an eye on the h4 square } * You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
