Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense
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Statistics from Lichess
6,791 games: White 42.2% / Draw 13.1% / Black 44.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,3793,379 | ||
| 2,6542,654 | ||
| 293293 | ||
| 8989 | ||
| 7474 | ||
| 6464 | ||
| 6060 | ||
| 5050 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.42 White is slightly better
Best play: 6. Qd3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Nxe4 8. Qe3 Nd6 9. c3 Nf5 10. Nxc6 dxc6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense (ECO C47, Open Games) is a gambit in the Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Nxe5 Qe7 (5 moves).
In 6,791 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.2%, Black 44.7% and 13.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nxc6, in 50% 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: Scotch Variation, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense
6. Qd3 scores best for White: 53.1%, with White winning 47.4% and Black 41.1% of 2,654 games. The most played answer, 6. Nxc6, scores lowest: 47.0% in 3,379 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Qd3.
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, Krause Gambit, Leonhardt Defense (C47)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-scotch-variation-krause-gambit-leonhardt-defense