Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
347 games: White 49.3% / Draw 7.2% / Black 43.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 219219 | ||
| 101101 | ||
| 1717 | ||
| 99 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.34 White is slightly better
Best play: 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. Nd5 Qxd4+ 12. Qxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxc7 Nxb5 14. Nxa8 Bc5+
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation (ECO C48, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Bd6 8. f4 Nc6 9. e5 Bb4 (9 moves).
In 347 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 43.5% and 7.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. exf6, in 63% 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: Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation
10. d5 scores best for White: 62.4%, with White winning 60.4% and Black 35.6% of 101 games. The most played answer, 10. exf6, scores lowest: 48.4% in 219 games. Stockfish's first choice is 10. exf6.
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: Spanish Variation, Bardeleben Variation (C48)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-bardeleben-variation