Tree path 9 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Three Knights Opening › Four Knights Game › Scotch Variation › Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted › Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit › Modern Defense
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense
Overview
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, Modern Defense is a gambit, classified under ECO code C47 within the Open Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
It is reached after 12 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nd5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 f5.
It is a variation of Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Belgrade Gambit, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- C47
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 12
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
24,603 games · White 61.3% / Draw 3.9% / Black 34.8%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Ng5 | 18,837 | |
| Bg5 | 1,843 | |
| Bf4 | 1,679 | |
| Nd2 | 1,633 | |
| g4 | 544 | |
| Nh4 | 11 | |
| Bd2 | 8 | |
| Nxd4 | 7 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:39:40
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