Four Knights Game: Naroditsky Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
33,461 games: White 45.5% / Draw 4.9% / Black 49.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 11,43711K | ||
| 8,0538,053 | ||
| 5,0805,080 | ||
| 4,8274,827 | ||
| 2,3112,311 | ||
| 412412 | ||
| 372372 | ||
| 364364 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 3, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.13 The position is about equal
Best play: 4... Bc5 5. Nxf6+ Qxf6 6. c3 Qg6 7. d3 d6 8. Nh4 Qf6 9. Nf3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Four Knights Game: Naroditsky Variation (ECO C47, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nd5 (4 moves).
In 33,461 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.5%, Black 49.7% and 4.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Nxe4, in 34% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Four Knights Game: Naroditsky Variation
4…Be7 scores best for Black: 54.4%, with Black winning 51.5% and White 42.7% of 2,311 games. The most played, 4…Nxe4, scores 52.0% in 11K games, and 4…Nxd5 scores lowest: 50.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 4…Bc5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Four Knights Game: Naroditsky Variation (C47)”. Lichess data as of 3 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-naroditsky-variation