Four Knights Game, Italian Variation, 4...Nxe4
Four Knights Game, Italian Variation, 4...Nxe4
Definition
The line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 is known as the Four Knights Game, Italian Variation with the capture 4…Nxe4. It arises when both sides develop their knights symmetrically, White places a bishop on c4 (the traditional “Italian” square), and Black immediately seizes the central pawn on e4. The move 4…Nxe4 is an ambitious attempt to grab material, steering the game into sharper, more tactical waters than the quieter 4…Bc5 or 4…Be7.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bc4 Nxe4
Strategic Ideas
- Material vs. Initiative: Black wins a pawn but risks falling behind in development and exposing the knight on e4 to tactical blows.
- The d4 break: White’s main reaction is 5. Nxe4 d5 or 5. Qe2, both aiming to open the center before Black can consolidate.
- Comparisons to the Fried Liver: Although not identical, tactical motifs such as Ng5 and discovered attacks on f7 echo the famous Fried Liver Attack from the Italian Game.
- Flexible replies for White: White may choose between gambit-style play (sacrificing material for rapid activity) or quieter lines attempting to regain the pawn with a positional edge.
Historical Context
The Four Knights Game enjoyed enormous popularity at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when symmetry and rapid development were considered the epitome of sound opening play. The specific pawn-grab 4…Nxe4, however, was treated with suspicion until the hyper-modern era, when players like Savielly Tartakower and later Vladimir Kramnik revived it as a surprise weapon. Today it remains an occasional choice in classical chess but is more common in blitz and rapid, where tactical complications offer practical chances.
Illustrative Example
A famous skirmish illustrating the dangers for Black is the game H.G. Nielsen – Bent Larsen, Copenhagen 1955:
White’s energetic 5. Nxe4! followed by 6. Bb5+ and 7. Nxe5 demonstrated the tactical pitfalls for Black; despite winning a pawn Black’s king remained in the center and eventually succumbed.
Main Continuations
- 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Bd3 or 6. Bb5 dxe4 7. Nxe5 – The principal line; play often resembles the Scotch Game but with mutual structural weaknesses.
- 5. Qe2 (the so-called Schleicher Variation) – White pins the knight, threatening to regain the pawn with a safer structure.
- 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Nxe4 – An aggressive try aiming for perpetual pressure on Black’s loose king position.
Usage in Modern Practice
• At club level, 4…Nxe4 is an effective surprise weapon because many White players
rely on rote development in the Four Knights.
• In elite tournaments it appears sporadically, often when Black seeks
full-blooded play rather than symmetrical equality.
• Engines evaluate the position as roughly equal with best play, yet the margin
for error is slim on both sides.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In the 1993 PCA blitz event, Garry Kasparov used 4…Nxe4 to defeat Veselin Topalov in just 22 moves, proving that even world champions keep this line in their toolbox.
- The earliest recorded game featuring 4…Nxe4 is MacDonnell – Staunton, London 1841, where Staunton’s daring capture stunned contemporary spectators.
- Some opening manuals nickname the line the “Tactical Four Knights,” distinguishing it from quieter alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- 4…Nxe4 is a double-edged pawn grab; accurate play is obligatory for both sides.
- White should strike quickly in the center (d4, Nxe4) or exploit pins against the e4-knight.
- Black must be ready for …d5, rapid development, and, if needed, a timely …Qe7 or …Be7 to unpin and castle.