Tree path 8 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Normal Variation › Three Knights Opening › Four Knights Game › Spanish Variation › Rubinstein Variation › Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation
C48

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation

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Overview

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C48.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2, after 9 plies of opening development.

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

It continues primarily into one named line, Maróczy Variation.

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
C48
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
9
Parent
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation
Direct variations
1

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

14,820 games · White 45.8% / Draw 6.8% / Black 47.4%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nxe27,206
Nxf3+2,278
d62,073
Bc51,708
Bb4478
d5359
Bd6320
c6147

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:05:48

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Variations (1)