C48

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation

Chess diagram: Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation after 9…Bb6

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Statistics from Lichess

18 games: White 55.6% / Draw 0.0% / Black 44.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1414
33
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.24 The position is about equal

Best play: 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. c4 h6 12. a4 Nh7 13. b3 Ng5 14. Bh5 Ne6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation (ECO C48, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6 (9 moves).

In 18 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.6%, Black 44.4% and 0.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. Nxb6, in 78% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation (C48)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-rubinstein-variation-maroczy-variation