Three Knights Opening

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Three Knights Opening
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 nd h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 pd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 nd d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 nl d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 pl d2 pl e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
ECO C46
Parent Open Game
Chessgames.com opening explorer

The Three Knights Opening is a chess opening that begins with the moves:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3

In the Three Knights Opening, Black chooses to break symmetry in order to avoid the often drawish Four Knights Game that would result from 3...Nf6. After tries such as 3...d6 or 3...Be7, White can play 4.d4 leaving Black with a cramped position resembling Philidor's Defense. If Black plays 3...Bc5 instead, White can use a fork to eliminate Black's king pawn 3...Bc5 4.Nxe5 Nxe5 5.d4 Bd6 6.dxe5 Bxe5. Tournament games have shown that this line seems to favor White, so Black usually plays 3...Bb4 or 3...g6. The game will then typically continue 3...Bb4 4.Nd5 or 3...g6 4.d4 exd4.

There is also the Winawer Defense or Gothic Defense: 3... f5!?. 4. Bb5 transposes into the Schliemann variation of the Ruy Lopez. Note White probably should not play 4. exf5 because of 4... d5.

[edit] References

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