Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
30,588 games: White 48.8% / Draw 8.5% / Black 42.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 20,46920K | ||
| 7,0377,037 | ||
| 3,0203,020 | ||
| 4646 | ||
| 44 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026
Engine evaluation
0.00 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... dxc6 7. d3 Re8 8. Ne2 a5 9. a4 Nd7 10. Be3 b6 11. h3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation (ECO C49, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Double Spanish, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. Bxc6 (6 moves).
In 30,588 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.8%, Black 42.7% and 8.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…dxc6, in 67% 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, Nimzowitsch Variation
The most played answer, 6…dxc6, also scores best for Black: 48.6%, with Black winning 44.2% and White 47.1% of 20K games. Of the main answers, 6…Bxc3 scores lowest: 41.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…dxc6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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, Nimzowitsch Variation (C49)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-nimzowitsch-variation