Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...Nf6/4. d4/4...exd4

< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. e4‎ | 1...e5‎ | 2. Nf3‎ | 2...Nc6‎ | 3. Bc4‎ | 3...Nf6‎ | 4. d4
Two Knights Defence - Classical
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4

Two Knights Defence - Classical Variation edit

4...exd4 edit

Black plays exd4. Black is a pawn up but has a number of weaknesses the square e5, the Knight on f6 that can be pinned and also the weak f7 square. This all adds up to giving White a number of options. They are.

  • 5. O-O the classical variation.
  • 5. e5 the modern variation.
  • 5. Ng5 a misguided direct attack on f7.
  • 5. Nxd4 rather normal move.
  • 5. Bg5 pinning the Knight, but the pin can soon be undone, leaving no advantage for White.
  • 5. Qe2 this supports e5, although e5 can be played immediately anyway.
  • 5. c3 fails to 5...Nxe4 where Black has the nice d5 available and time to block any pins on the e-file against the King.

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4


5

6

7

8

9

10
1 O-O
Nxe4
Re1
d5
Bxd5
Qxd5
Nc3
Qh5
Nxe4
Be6
Bg5
Bd6
=
2 ...
Bc5
e5
d5
exf6
dxc4
Re1+
Be6
Ng5
Qd5
Nc3
Qf5
=
3 e5
d5
Bb5
Ne4
Nxd4
Bd7
Bxc6
bxc6
O-O
Bc5
Be3
Qe7
=
4 Ng5
d5
exd5
Qe7+
Kf1
Ne5
Qxd4
Nxc4
Qxc4
h6
Nf3
Qc5
=
5 Nxd4
Nxe4
Bxf7+
Kxf7
Qxh5+
g6
Qd5
Kg7
Nxc6
bxc6
Qxe4
Qe8
=
6 Bg5
Be7
O-O
O-O
=
7 Qe2
Bc5
e5
O-O
O-O
d5
=/+
8 c3
Nxe4
=/+

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References edit

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