C49

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation 10. d4 Bg4

Chess diagram: Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation after 10…Bg4

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

449 games: White 42.3% / Draw 6.9% / Black 50.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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3232
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1010
88
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44

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.50 White is slightly better

Best play: 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. d5 c6 14. Bd3 h6 15. Bh4 b5

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

Overview

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation (ECO C49, Open Games) is a variation of the Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Metger Unpin, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 Bg4 (10 moves).

In 449 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.3%, Black 50.8% and 6.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. h3, in 80% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation (C49)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/four-knights-game-spanish-variation-symmetrical-variation-4