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

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Two Knights Defence - Classical
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4

Two Knights Defence - Classical Variation

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4...exd4

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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

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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

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


v · t · e
Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
Four knights: ()
Italian game: ()
Spanish game: ()

With other 2nd moves:
2. Other
1... other
1. d4
Flank
Unorthodox