Caissa Codex
C47

Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense

Chess diagram: Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense after 6…f5

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Statistics from Lichess

24,603 games: White 61.3% / Draw 3.9% / Black 34.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
18,83719K
1,8431,843
1,6791,679
1,6331,633
544544
1111
88
77

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 2, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.24 The position is about equal

Best play: 7. Nd2 d3 8. Qxd3 Nb4 9. Nxb4 Bxb4 10. c3 Bc5 11. Nxe4 Qe7

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense (ECO C47, Open Games) is a gambit in the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nd5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 f5 (6 moves).

In 24,603 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 61.3%, Black 34.8% and 3.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Ng5, in 77% of those games.

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How to play against the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense

The most played answer, 7. Ng5, also scores best for White: 64.9%, with White winning 62.9% and Black 33.2% of 19K games. Of the main answers, 7. Bg5 scores lowest: 49.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. Nd2.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense (C47)”. Lichess data as of 2 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-scotch-variation-belgrade-gambit-modern-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-scotch-variation-belgrade-gambit-modern-defense