Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Svenonius Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
1,964 games: White 50.4% / Draw 5.8% / Black 43.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 800800 | ||
| 767767 | ||
| 217217 | ||
| 4646 | ||
| 3838 | ||
| 3838 | ||
| 2828 | ||
| 88 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.45 White is slightly better
Best play: 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. c4 Qd6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nd2 e4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Svenonius Variation (ECO C49, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d5 (7 moves).
In 1,964 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.4%, Black 43.8% and 5.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. exd5, in 41% 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, Svenonius Variation
8. Bxc6 scores best for White: 55.7%, with White winning 53.1% and Black 41.6% of 767 games. The most played, 8. exd5, scores 53.6% in 800 games, and 8. Bg5 scores lowest: 49.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 8. exd5.
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, Svenonius Variation (C49)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-svenonius-variation