Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation: Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

Castle and play d3, then regroup with Ne2 and Ng3, as in the 4...Bb4 engine line, to aim the knight at f5.
Bxc6 followed by Nxe5 is a recurring idea, but check first that Black cannot answer with ...Nxe4 and win the pawn back.
Against 4...Nd4, 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 leads to forcing play where several pieces and pawns come off quickly.

Black

4...Nd4 is the engine's top try, the Rubinstein: it attacks the b5-bishop and offers e5 for activity.
4...Bb4 copies White's setup; after 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6, Black follows with ...Ne7 and ...Ng6.
4...Bd6 looks odd but is solid: it holds e5 with a piece, and ...a6 and ...h6 follow.

Plans and pawn structure

Most lines keep the e4 and e5 pawns facing each other, so the game is about piece play on the kingside. White's typical plan is O-O, d3, Bg5 to pin the f6-knight, and Ne2-g3 to reach f5. Black mirrors with ...O-O, ...d6, ...Ne7-g6, or uses ...Nd4 to trade White's best knight. The Rubinstein 4...Nd4 is the exception: it can lead to an open game where Black's quick development matters more than symmetry.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.04: level. Its three top choices for Black:

−0.04 4...Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6
+0.24 4...Bd6 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 a6 7.Ba4
+0.25 4...Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Ne2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

12,416 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.4%.

under 120051.7%

1200–159951.6%

1600–199955.2%

2000 and up50.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

Spanish Variation, Classical Variation4...Bc5 · 3,711 games
Spanish Variation, Double Spanish4...Bb4 · 1,764 games
Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation4...a6 · 1,496 games
Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation4...Nd4 · 654 games
Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation4...Nd4 · rare
Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Blake Variation4...Bb4 · rare
Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation4...Bc5 · rare
Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation4...a6 · rare

How to play against it

Pick one reply and learn it well. 4...Nd4 gives the most active play, and after 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 Black has an easy game. If you prefer symmetry, 4...Bb4 is solid. Avoid ...a6 unless you know the Ranken lines, since Bxc6 then demands an exact recapture.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 Bxc3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation?

The Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5. Its ECO code is C48, C49.

Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.04 at depth 20, which is level. In 12,416 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.4%. A safe, positional choice for White that rewards patience; Black needs one well-prepared answer, usually 4...Nd4 or 4...Bb4.

What is the main idea of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation?

White plays a Ruy Lopez setup with both knights already out, aiming for O-O, d3 and slow pressure on e5. Black's most active answer is 4...Nd4, which counterattacks the bishop and the center.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nd4, with Bd6 and Bb4 close behind. 4...Nd4 attacks the b5-bishop and invites trades that free Black's game.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation