Caissa Codex
C48

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation

Chess diagram: Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation after 10…Qd5

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Statistics from Lichess

2,636 games: White 47.8% / Draw 9.2% / Black 43.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,0431,043
524524
344344
261261
179179
113113
6262
5757

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.19 The position is about equal

Best play: 11. Bg5 Bd6 12. Rc1 b5 13. b3 b4 14. Qd2 O-O 15. Bf4 Bxf4

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

Overview

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation (ECO C48, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4 8. O-O Qxe5 9. Re1 Be6 10. d4 Qd5 (10 moves).

In 2,636 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.8%, Black 43.1% and 9.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Ng5, in 40% of those games.

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How to play against the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Spielmann Variation

11. Bg5 scores best for White: 67.7%, with White winning 62.8% and Black 27.3% of 524 games. The most played, 11. Ng5, scores 55.0% in 1,043 games, and 11. Nc5 scores lowest: 36.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 11. Bg5.

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, Spielmann Variation (C48)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-spielmann-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-spielmann-variation