Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation
The Open Variation is 4.d4 in the Two Knights Defense, striking the center before castling. Black's best is ...exd4, after which e5 hits the f6 knight; White wants fast development and open lines, while Black wants to grab or neutralize the center.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4
- ECO
- C56
- Engine
- +0.03 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,365 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 59.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...exd4, push e5 and meet ...Ne4 with Qe2 to pin and pressure the knight.
- Castle short and use the e-file, playing Bxe6 if a knight lands there and blocks the bishop.
- Against ...d6, play d5 to gain space and push the c6 knight back with tempo.
- Against ...Nxe4, take on e5 and look for Bxf7+ and Qd5+ to win back the e4 knight.
Black
- Take with ...exd4, the engine's top choice, and answer e5 with a central knight move like ...Ne4.
- After Qe2, use ...Nc5 and ...Ne6 to block the e-file and shut down the c4 bishop.
- ...d6 holds the e5 pawn but cedes space after d5; the knight goes to e7 and ...g6 follows.
- Avoid ...Nxe4: dxe5, Bxf7+ and Qd5+ win back the knight and expose Black's king.
Plans and pawn structure
After ...exd4 and e5, the game becomes an open fight. White uses the e-file, the e5 pawn and quick castling to push Black's knights around. Black aims for ...d5 or a solid setup with ...Nc5 and ...Ne6, then castles and attacks the e5 pawn. In the ...d6 line, the center locks after d5, so White expands with c4 and Black plays ...g6, ...Bg7 and later ...f5. The open lines favor whoever develops faster.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.03: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.03 4...exd4 5.e5 Ne4 6.Qe2 Nc5 7.O-O
- +0.59 4...d6 5.d5 Ne7 6.Bd3 g6 7.c4
- +0.81 4...Nxe4 5.dxe5 d6 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qd5+
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,365 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Scotch Gambit, Dubois Réti Defense4...exd4 · 1,598 games
- Scotch Invitation Declined4...d6 · 736 games
- Two Knights Defense, Max Lange Attack, Berger Variation4...exd4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, take on d4 at once and keep the pieces active. After e5 your knight needs a good square, so learn ...Ne4 and ...d5 ideas. Do not grab the e4 pawn with the knight, which runs into Bxf7+ and a queen check on d5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation?
The Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4. Its ECO code is C56.
Is the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.03 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,365 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.1%. A lively choice for White players who like open positions, and Black must know where the f6 knight goes after e5.
What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Open Variation?
White opens the center with d4 to use the lead in development. Black takes with ...exd4, and after e5 the knights must find active posts like e4 while Black keeps an eye on f7.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is exd4, with d6 and Nxe4 close behind. ...exd4 removes the central pawn and steers into known open lines where Black gets active piece play.
Related lines
- Two Knights Defense
- Modern Bishop's Opening
- Polerio Defense
- Knight Attack
- Fried Liver Attack
- Traxler Counterattack
- How to beat the Two Knights Defenseguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.