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Analyzer

Four Knights Game

33 variations · 28M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Four Knights Game is balanced for Black at 48.3% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score48.3%Aggregated from 33 variationsWin + ½×draw — predicts rating gain better than win rate
45%48.3%55%
Tight estimate: 48.3% (±0.1%, huge sample)
Min adv-3.5%
ContextOverall · n=28M
Outcome Distribution
3...Nf6
Four Knights Game
Variations33
Games (Context)28M
Avg Length32 moves
Draw Rate4.3%

Games (Context) — games matching the current filter

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for Black · Overall

#1Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Gunsberg CounterattackTop Pick
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.Nd5 Nxd5 7.exd5 e4
Min adv +24.3% · n=247
67.1%
#2Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Nxe5 Bc5 6.O-O O-O
Min adv +3.9% · n=3.9K
53.3%
#3Four Knights Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
Min adv +0.9% · n=3.2M
50.5%
#4Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Schmid Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nxe4
Min adv +0.1% · n=59K
50.4%
#5Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5
Min adv -2.1% · n=1.8M
49.0%
#6Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Svenonius Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 Bxc3 7.bxc3 d5
Min adv -2.3% · n=1.8K
50.8%
#7Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 Bb4 5.Nxe5 Qe7
Min adv -4.2% · n=3.0K
49.4%
#8Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Double Spanish
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4
Min adv -4.6% · n=912K
47.8%
#9Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4
Min adv -4.8% · n=248K
47.8%
#10Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Metger Unpin
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Qe7
Min adv -5.1% · n=3.9K
48.8%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Four Knights Game expected score for Black?

Snapshot

Overall, the Four Knights Game family has a 48.3% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 48.3% and 48.3%), aggregated from 33 variations and 28M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 47% → 40%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.0% win rate (3,556,074 games)
  • 1000-1199: 46.0% win rate (4,782,001 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.1% win rate (5,427,000 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.5% win rate (5,234,199 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.0% win rate (4,152,599 games)
  • 1800-1999: 45.8% win rate (2,764,508 games)
  • 2000-2199: 45.3% win rate (1,399,808 games)
  • 2200-2499: 43.3% win rate (712,973 games)
  • 2500+: 39.8% win rate (165,109 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~47%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 46.5% win rate (31,941 games)
  • Bullet: 46.5% win rate (7,447,619 games)
  • Blitz: 45.9% win rate (13,199,752 games)
  • Rapid: 46.1% win rate (7,206,336 games)
  • Classical: 46.5% win rate (308,623 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · Black expected scores

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter — click it again to clear. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 54.0% expected score (3,807 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (727,449 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (1,491,750 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.3% expected score (1,320,073 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 51.6% expected score (12,995 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 48.6% expected score (6,622 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (1,081,749 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (2,181,072 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (1,472,647 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.9% expected score (39,911 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 47.6% expected score (7,393 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 47.9% expected score (1,245,777 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (2,559,638 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (1,542,272 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 48.9% expected score (71,920 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.0% expected score (7,279 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 48.1% expected score (1,260,004 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (2,543,723 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.2% expected score (1,324,097 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.3% expected score (99,096 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 44.1% expected score (3,401 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (1,131,788 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 48.1% expected score (2,070,314 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.6% expected score (890,207 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (56,889 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 43.4% expected score (1,831 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.8% expected score (886,499 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.3% expected score (1,389,439 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.8% expected score (464,443 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 48.6% expected score (22,296 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 44.7% expected score (934 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (589,971 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (653,371 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (150,977 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.3% expected score (4,555 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (536 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.4% expected score (399,808 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 45.9% expected score (272,720 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 45.3% expected score (39,072 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 45.6% expected score (837 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 43.6% expected score (138 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.5% expected score (124,574 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.3% expected score (37,725 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (2,548 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (124 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (33)

Ranked by Min adv — the worst-case edge over 50% we're 90% confident you keep.

1
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Gunsberg Counterattack247 games
67.1%min +24.3%
2
Four Knights Game: Italian Variation, Noa Gambit443K games
54.1%min +8.0%
3
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Variation3.9K games
53.3%min +3.9%
Four Knights Game3.2M games
50.5%min +0.9%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation Accepted192K games
50.5%min +0.6%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Schmid Defense59K games
50.4%min +0.1%
Four Knights Game: Glek System97K games
49.8%min -0.9%
Four Knights Game: Italian Variation12M games
49.3%min -1.5%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation1.8M games
49.0%min -2.1%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Svenonius Variation1.8K games
50.8%min -2.3%
Four Knights Game: Gunsberg Variation651K games
48.0%min -4.2%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense3.0K games
49.4%min -4.2%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Double Spanish912K games
47.8%min -4.6%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation248K games
47.8%min -4.8%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Metger Unpin3.9K games
48.8%min -5.1%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation1.3K games
49.4%min -5.8%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation2.0M games
46.9%min -6.4%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Marshall Gambit1.5K games
49.0%min -6.4%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Henneberger Variation48K games
47.1%min -6.6%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation20K games
46.5%min -8.2%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted3.7M games
45.8%min -8.6%
Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit731K games
45.7%min -8.8%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit119K games
45.6%min -9.3%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation1.5M games
45.0%min -10.1%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation168 games
51.2%min -10.2%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation34K games
45.2%min -10.5%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Janowski Variation1.8K games
46.6%min -10.8%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation683K games
43.7%min -12.9%
Four Knights Game: Halloween Gambit, Plasma Variation870 games
44.9%min -15.9%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit29K games
42.4%min -16.3%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Oxford Gambit38K games
41.3%min -18.3%
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Tarrasch Variation704 games
42.7%min -20.7%
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense14K games
38.8%min -23.8%
Analyze Four Knights Game PositionsGet move-by-move win rates at your level with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Four Knights Game win rate?

The Four Knights Game family has a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.6%) win rate for white, aggregated from 33 variations and 28M rated games from Lichess.

How many Four Knights Game variations are there?

This analysis covers 33 Four Knights Game variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Four Knights Game perform best?

The Four Knights Game family performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 49.9% win rate for white (4.8M games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Four Knights Game better in blitz or rapid?

UltraBullet (52.1%) outperforms Classical (47.9%) by 4.2% across all Four Knights Game variations.

How sharp is the Four Knights Game?

Four Knights Game games are 95.7% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 32 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Four Knights Game a good opening family?

The Four Knights Game family is statistically balanced overall with a 49.6% (90% CI: 49.5%-49.6%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 33 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.