Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation
The Classical Variation of the Spanish Four Knights is 4...Bc5, developing the bishop to its active diagonal toward f2. White's main answer is the central fork trick with Nxe5 and d4, while Black wants quick castling and counterplay against e4.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5
- ECO
- C48
- Engine
- +0.37 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 3,711 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.4%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 5.O-O O-O 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.d4 is the engine's choice: White gives the knight and wins material back with the pawn fork.
- 5.Nxe5 at once also works. After 5...Nxe5 6.d4 the pawn attacks both pieces, and 8.dxe5 later restores the balance.
- After the trades, White usually keeps the bishop pair and adds pressure on the e-file with Re1.
Black
- Castle first with 5...O-O. After 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.d4, 7...d5 counterattacks and 8.dxc5 Nxe4 regains the pawn.
- Against 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5, use 6...Bd4: the bishop hits the knight and c3, and Black wins back the pawn.
- ...Nd4 is a useful resource in slow lines, trading the f3-knight that keeps eyeing e5.
Plans and pawn structure
After the fork-trick lines the center opens and both sides have active pieces; White usually keeps the bishop pair and Black has free play on the e- and d-files. If White avoids early tactics with O-O and d3, the game becomes a slow Spanish where Black's c5-bishop presses f2 and ...d6 with ...Bg4 targets the f3-knight. White answers with Bg5, Be3 or Na4 to blunt the bishop.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.37: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.37 5.O-O O-O 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.d4 d5
- +0.29 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 a6 7.Be2 Bd6
- +0.06 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5 Bd4 7.Nf3 Bxc3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
3,711 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.4%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation5.O-O · rare
How to play against it
Know the fork trick: Nxe5 followed by d4 is White's best way to play for an edge. If you castle first with 5.O-O, the same idea is still there after 5...O-O. Avoid 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nxe5, since 6...Bd4 wins the pawn back with an easy game for Black.
Questions
What are the moves of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation?
The Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5. Its ECO code is C48.
Is the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.37 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 3,711 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.4%. Active and fighting for Black, but only for players who know the fork-trick lines; otherwise White's d4 tricks are hard to meet.
What is the main idea of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation?
Black develops the bishop to c5 instead of b4, accepting the risk of a pawn fork. White's best answer uses Nxe5 and d4 to open the center, and Black replies with ...d5 to regain material.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is O-O, with Nxe5 and Bxc6 close behind. 5.O-O castles first and prepares Nxe5 with d4, a fork trick that leaves White with the bishop pair.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.