Caissa Codex
D01

Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System

Chess diagram: Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System after 4. Nf3

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

105,391 games: White 45.7% / Draw 6.3% / Black 48.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
31,80232K
31,57232K
21,63122K
Grünfeld Defense 10,23510K
4,8724,872
1,9971,997
1,8711,871
744744

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

Engine evaluation

−0.12 The position is about equal

Best play: 4... e6 5. e3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. h3 c5 8. O-O a6 9. a4

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

Overview

Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System (ECO D01, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Richter-Veresov Attack, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nf3 (4 moves).

In 105,391 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.7%, Black 48.0% and 6.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…h6, in 30% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System, Grünfeld Defense.

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How to play against the Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System

4…g6 (Grünfeld Defense) scores best for Black: 53.9%, with Black winning 50.5% and White 42.7% of 10K games. The most played, 4…h6, scores 50.8% in 32K games, and 4…c6 scores lowest: 50.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 4…e6.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…Nbd7 4. Nf3, the position after Richter-Veresov Attack also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Richter-Veresov Attack: Two Knights System (D01)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/richter-veresov-attack-two-knights-system

https://chesscodex.org/openings/richter-veresov-attack-two-knights-system