Four Knights Game: Gunsberg Variation & Provincial Opening
Four Knights Game
Definition
The Four Knights Game is a double-king-pawn opening that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6. Both players develop their king’s knight and queen’s knight to their most natural squares, creating a harmonious, symmetrical position. The opening belongs to ECO codes C44–C48.
Typical Move-Order and Branches
- Spanish (Ruy López) Four Knights: 4. Bb5
- Italian Four Knights: 4. Bc4
- Scotch Four Knights: 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4
- Gunsberg Variation: 4. g3 (see separate entry)
- Quiet System: 4. Be2 or 4. d3
Strategic Features
Because both sides develop quickly and castling is easy, the opening often leads to:
- Equal pawn structures and open central lines, rewarding piece activity and tactical alertness.
- The chance to transpose into other openings (e.g., the Scotch or the Giuoco Piano) depending on fourth-move choices.
- Opportunities for both aggressive and positional play; e.g., Black may strike with …d5 or …Bb4 while White can aim for central expansion with d4.
Historical Significance
The Four Knights Game was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the principles of rapid development were being codified. Players such as José Raúl Capablanca, Siegbert Tarrasch, and Rudolf Spielmann used it as a solid yet flexible weapon. Although less common at elite level today, it remains a mainstay in scholastic and club chess because the plans are instructive and the theory is lighter than in many other 1. e4 e5 systems.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The diagram shows a typical Spanish Four Knights middlegame: White has planted a knight on d5, inducing structural tension, while both sides have completed development.
Interesting Facts
- The earliest recorded game with the Four Knights Game dates back to 1843 (H. Gastine vs. H. Morphy Sr., New Orleans).
- Because every move follows classical principles (control the center, develop pieces, castle), the opening is often recommended in beginner manuals.
- A common beginner mistake is 4. Nxe5? allowing 4…Nxe5 5. d4 Nc6 6. dxe5, where Black equalises comfortably—an instructive lesson on the tactical pitfalls of symmetry.
Gunsberg Variation (Four Knights Game)
Definition
The Gunsberg Variation is a sub-line of the Four Knights Game beginning with 4. g3:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3
Named after the Hungarian-British grandmaster Isidor Gunsberg (World Championship challenger, 1891), this move prepares Bg2 and a fianchetto setup reminiscent of the modern king’s-side systems.
Strategic Ideas
- King-side Fianchetto: White plays Bg2 and O-O, controlling the long diagonal and adding pressure to d5 and f5 squares.
- Flexible Centre: Unlike 4. d4 or 4. Bb5, White often delays a central pawn break, choosing between d3–d4, f2–f4, or even d2–d3 followed by Nd5.
- Avoiding Heavy Theory: 4. g3 sidesteps the most analysed Four Knights branches, offering fresh positions with equal chances.
Main Defensive Set-ups for Black
- 4…d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 aiming for an immediate central equaliser.
- 4…Bc5 entering Italian-style play but with the bishop outside the pawn chain.
- 4…Bb4 pinning the c3-knight and pressuring e4.
Model Game
An attractive illustration is Isidor Gunsberg – Emanuel Lasker, 1890 (simultaneous exhibition). Gunsberg deployed 4. g3, castled rapidly, and later broke with f4, seizing the initiative on the king’s side. Though the game ended in a draw, it showcased the dynamic prospects of the variation.
Related “Gunsberg” Systems
Gunsberg’s name appears in a few other contexts:
- Gunsberg Counter-Gambit in the King’s Gambit Declined: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4.
- Gunsberg Variation of the Two Knights Defence (rare line starting with 4. d4 exd4 5. e5).
Interesting Anecdotes
- Isidor Gunsberg once defeated Wilhelm Steinitz in 20 moves with a similar g3-Bg2 idea—proof that “quiet” fianchetto lines can hide venomous tactics.
- Several modern grandmasters—including Baadur Jobava and Richard Rapport—occasionally revive 4. g3 as a surprise weapon in rapid and blitz.
Provincial Opening (1. a4)
Definition
The Provincial Opening is an uncommon flank opening that starts with the move 1. a4. It is catalogued under ECO code A00 and is sometimes also called the Ware Opening or the Meadow-Hay Opening. The name “Provincial” alludes humorously to the notion that players from the provinces might be unfamiliar with top-level theory and therefore choose eccentric first moves!
Purpose of 1. a4
- Prevents Black’s …b5 pawn advance in many lines, which can be relevant if White later fianchettos the queen’s bishop with b3 and Bb2.
- Gives the a-rook access to a3 or a5 squares in some gambit ideas.
- Invites Black to occupy the centre, after which White hopes to undermine it later.
Typical Continuations
- 1…e5 2. d4: Transposes to a reversed Scandinavian where the pawn on a4 may restrain …b5.
- 1…d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3: Leads to mainstream Queen’s Gambit structures but with the extra move a4.
- 1…c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e4: A cheeky attempt to reach a Sicilian with colours reversed.
Strategic Evaluation
From a theoretical standpoint, 1. a4 concedes a tempo in central development. Modern engines rate the move at approximately +0.15 for Black with best play, indicating that it is playable but objectively inferior to mainstream openings. Its practical value lies in surprise factor and in steering the game into less-explored territory.
Historic and Modern Usage
- Pre-war Era: American master Preston Ware (hence “Ware Opening”) employed 1. a4 in the late 19th century.
- Modern Flash: Hikaru Nakamura tried 1. a4 against strong engines in blitz, demonstrating its trick-value.
- Computer Chess: Engines occasionally select 1. a4 in randomized openings because it does not lose by force.
Illustrative Example
After 1. a4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4, White exploits the open queen to accelerate development. Although objectively equal, the game is instantly uncharted.
Fun Facts
- The sarcastic nickname “Meadow-Hay” stems from the notion that a4 “cuts hay on the side of the board while the battle rages in the centre.”
- Because the rook can slide to a3 early, some writers compare certain Provincial structures to reversed Benko Gambits.
- FIDE Master Denis Gleizerov once beat a 2600-rated grandmaster with 1. a4 in a rapid event, proving that even “provincial” moves can score upsets.