The Complete Chess Course From Beginning To Winning Chess! (2016)
Book Seven
How to Play the e-pawn Openings
Four Knights’ Game (including Three Knights’ Game)
This solid line of play is generally good for a draw, but unpromising if White want to play for a win. Black has many equalizing methods, and numerous possibilities of simplifying exchanges.
(a) Double Ruy Lopez with 6…Bxc3
Four Knights’ Game
White - Black
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3
A lifeless, drawish alternative is 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.Nxe5 Re8 8.Nd3 Bxc3 9.dxc3 Nxe4 etc.
6…Bxc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.Bg5 Qe7
After 8…Ne7? 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nh4 c6 11.Bc4 d5 12.Bb3 Ng6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.f4! White has a decided initiative.
9.Re1 Nd8 (D)
Position after 9…Nd8
Black rearranges his pieces to get more maneuvering freedom.
10.d4 Ne6 11.Bc1 c5!
Black does not fear 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5?? for then 13…Nc7! wins a piece.
12.g3 Qc7
Black has a slight advantage because of his superior pawn position. A plausible possibility is 13.Qe2 a6 14.Bd3 b5 15.d5 c4! 16.dxe6 Bxe6! and Black regains the piece favorably.
(b) Double Ruy Lopez with 6…d6
Four Knights’ Game
White - Black
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 (D)
Position after 6…d6
Black intends to hold on to the two bishops. If now 7.Ne2 Black replies 7…Ne7 with a symmetrical, drawish position.
7.Bg5 Ne7
And not 7…Bg4 because of 8.Nd5 intensifying the pin on Black’s king knight.
8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nh4 Ng6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.f4 Bc5+ 12.Kh1 Kg7 13.f5
After 13…c6 14.Bc4 d5! Black’s bishop pair and compact pawn center promise well for him despite the somewhat barricaded character of the position.
(c) Rubinstein Variation
Four Knights’ Game
White - Black
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Nxe5 Qe7 (D)
Position after 5…Qe7
Black has violated the rules of good development, but how is he to be punished? If 6.Nf3 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 Qxe4+ 8.Qe2 Qxe2+ 9.Kxe2 Nd5 10.c4 a6! and White has nothing.
6.f4! Nxb5 7.Nxb5 d6 8.Nf3 Qxe4+ 9.Kf2 Ng4+ 10.Kg1! Kd8 11.d3 Qc6
After 12.Nbd4 Qb6 13.h3 Nf6 14.Kh2 White has the better game. Black’s king is insecure, his development disorganized.
(d) Three Knights’ Game
Three Knights’ Game
White - Black
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4 (D)
Position after 3…Bb4
Black’s last move is the key to this opening. If instead 3…Nf6 we have the Four Knights’ Game.
4.Nd5 Nf6 5.Nxb4 Nxb4 6.Nxe5
If now 6.d4 d5! - or 6.Bc4 d5! 7.exd5 e4! with equality in either event.
6…Qe7 7.d4 Nxe4 8.c3 Nc6 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Be6
Even game. Neither side can accomplish much in this colorless position.