Three Knights Opening Schlechter Variation
Three Knights Opening, Schlechter Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4)
Definition
The Three Knights Opening, Schlechter Variation, is a branch of the open-game family that arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bb4. Instead of the more popular 3…Nf6, which leads to the symmetrical Four Knights Game, Black immediately pins White’s knight with 3…Bb4. The line is named after the Austrian grandmaster Carl Schlechter (1874–1918), who used it repeatedly at the turn of the 20th century.
How the Variation Is Used
Players adopt the Schlechter Variation to:
- Avoid the quiet, often drawish Four Knights Game.
- Create early tension by pinning the c3-knight, thereby contesting the important d4-square.
- Retain flexibility: the bishop can later retreat to e7 or c5, exchange on c3, or even head to g7 after …g6.
From White’s point of view, several principled replies test Black’s idea:
- 4.Nd5! – the main line, immediately attacking the pinned bishop and c7.
- 4.Bc4 – aiming to transpose to Vienna-style positions with active piece play.
- 4.g3 – a fianchetto approach, holding the center and preparing Bg2.
Strategic Themes
The following ideas frequently surface in the Schlechter Variation:
- Central Control vs. Piece Activity: White usually strives for an early d4 push, while Black counts on piece pressure and the pin to delay or discourage that break.
- Bishop Pair Imbalance: If Black exchanges on c3, White gains the bishop pair but must cope with a damaged queenside structure.
- Outpost on d5: After 4.Nd5 Nf6 5.Nxb4 Nxb4, the d5-square often remains weak for Black, giving White a potential knight outpost later in the game.
- Transpositional Potential: With 4.Bc4 Nf6, the game can transpose to the Vienna Game, Frankenstein–Dracula set-ups, while early …g6 may steer play toward a King’s-Indian–style defense.
Typical Continuations
The most frequently analysed sequence is:
Key points of the diagram position:
- Material is equal, but White owns the bishop pair and excellent central pawns.
- Black’s queenside pawn majority gives long-term counter-play if the position opens.
- Both sides must judge whether to castle kingside (most common) or choose opposite-side castling for sharper play.
Historical Background
Carl Schlechter employed this line in several top-level tournaments, most memorably during his 1910 World-Championship match against Emanuel Lasker. The variation’s appeal waned after the 1920s, but it surfaces occasionally as a surprise weapon. Grandmasters such as Bent Larsen, Alexander Morozevich, and, more recently, Daniil Dubov have experimented with it in rapid or blitz events.
Notable Games
- Lasker – Schlechter, World Championship (Game 5), Vienna 1910. Lasker adopted the critical 4.Nd5 line and scored a tense draw after 73 moves. The game remains a theoretical touchstone, illustrating the resilience of Black’s set-up.
- Larsen – Taimanov, Candidates, Bled 1968. Larsen sprang 3…Bb4 as a surprise and steered play into a complex middlegame, eventually prevailing in an instructive rook-and-minor-piece ending.
- Dubov – Artemiev, Russian Blitz Ch. 2020. A modern example showing how Black can combine …g6 and …f5 to obtain dynamic counter-chances.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Carl Schlechter developed the variation partly because he felt the symmetrical Four Knights allowed White “too easy a game.”
- In old German literature the move 3…Bb4 was labeled the “Schlechter Sicherheitszug” (Schlechter’s safety move) because it avoids direct theoretical battles.
- The giant database Million Base 2024 contains fewer than 1 % of its 1.e4 e5 games with 3…Bb4—making the line a practical weapon for players who enjoy steering opponents out of book.
- Engines evaluate the main line after 4.Nd5 as roughly equal (+0.20 or so at depth 40), but tablebases have uncovered a few endgames where White’s doubled pawns actually enhance winning chances because they open lanes for the bishops.
Summary
The Three Knights Opening, Schlechter Variation, is a sound yet off-beat answer to 3.Nc3 that seeks early imbalance without excessive risk. Understanding its strategic motifs—central tension, the d5 outpost, and the fate of the light-squared bishop—equips players to navigate the resulting rich middlegames with confidence.