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

Three Knights Game
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
ECO code: C46
Parent: King's Knight Opening

Three Knights Game

Black can copy White's moves with 3...Nf6, leading to a very quiet game.

Other alternatives include bishop moves:

3...Bb4 is playable, but it may be too early because White can play 4. Nd5 (the knight is not pinned yet).

3...Bc5 is dangerous because White can play 4. Nxe5; after 4...Nxe5, White can play 5.d4, winning back the material with a fork. However, it's not really a mistake, because Black will be able to take a pawn during the process. In this line, 4...Bxf2+ is playable and does not lose material.

It's also possible to play 3...g6. It may prepare f5. It may also transpose into Scotch Game as the d4 counterattack is often seen.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3

	3	4	5
Four Knights Game	... Nf6	d4 exd4	Nxd4 Bb4	=
	... Bb4	Nd5 Ba5	Bc4	+/=
	... Bc5	Nxe5 Nxe5	d4 Bd6	+/=
	... g6	d4 exd4	Nxd4 Bg7	+/=
Winawer Defense	... f5	Bb5 fxe4	Nxe4 Nf6	+/=

References

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.