Tree path 8 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, Schmid Defense
C47

Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Schmid Defense

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Overview

Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation, Schmid Defense is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C47.

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 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Nxe4.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
C47
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
10
Parent
Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation Accepted

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

73,309 games · White 41.1% / Draw 8.3% / Black 50.6%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nxe453,868
Nxc618,706
Qe2412
Bc487
Qd335
Be331
Nd530
Bd320

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:17:32

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