Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit
The Noa Gambit is 5.Bxf7+ against the fork trick in the Italian Four Knights, giving the bishop with check and planning to win the e4 knight back. Material ends level after 6.Nxe4, but Black's pawns on d5 and e4 then push White's knights around.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+
- ECO
- C47
- Engine
- −1.63 · a large advantage for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,071 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 44.0%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Recapture with 6.Nxe4 at once. Material is level, and White hopes Ng5+ or Qe2 can bother the king on f7.
- When ...d5 hits the knight, 7.Ng3 keeps it near the kingside, covering e4 and f5.
- Use d4 to fight Black's pawns once they reach e4, as in 9.d4, and look for f3 to break the chain.
Black
- Take with 5...Kxf7. The king looks exposed, but there is no direct attack, and Black keeps both bishops.
- After 6.Nxe4 play 6...d5: the pawn hits the knight, and ...e4 next kicks the f3-knight too.
- The engine's ...h5 shows how much space Black has: the pawn can go to h4 to harass a knight on g3.
- Do not play 5...Ke7. After 6.Bd5 the bishop survives and attacks the e4 knight, and Black is much worse.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's center pawns on d5 and e4 do the heavy work, taking d3 and f3 away from White's pieces. The engine retreats Ng3 and Ng1 show how little room White's knights have. Black then walks the king to g8, develops the bishops and uses the bishop pair. White's counterplay comes from d4 and f3 to break the pawn chain and from checks like Ng5+ against the loose black king. If Black consolidates, the space and bishops should win.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −1.63: a large advantage for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −1.63 5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 7.Ng3 e4 8.Ng1
- +3.14 5...Ke7 6.Bd5 Nf6 7.d4 d6 8.O-O
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,071 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 44.0%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Take the bishop with the king and don't fear the check. Answer 6.Nxe4 with 6...d5 and keep pushing with ...e4, gaining time on White's knights. Keep the king on f7 or g8 behind its pawns, and avoid 5...Ke7, which lets the bishop escape to d5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit?
The Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+. Its ECO code is C47.
Is the Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −1.63 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for Black. In 1,071 lichess games from our sample, White scored 44.0%. A trappy surprise that scores poorly for White here; Black only needs to take with the king and push the center pawns.
What is the main idea of the Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit?
White trades the c4-bishop for the f7 pawn to displace Black's king, then wins the piece back on e4. Material ends level, but Black's ...d5 and ...e4 gain space and time, so the idea favors Black.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Kxf7, with Ke7 close behind. 5...Kxf7 accepts the bishop, and after 6.Nxe4 d5 Black's center gains time on White's knights.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.