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

Two Knights Defence - Classical
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) r1bqkb1r/pppp1ppp/2n2n2/8/2BpP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4

Two Knights Defence - Classical Variation

4...exd4

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

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	=/+

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.