Three Knights Opening
ECO C46 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
The Three Knights Opening, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3, comes before Black chooses between ...Nf6 (transposing to the Four Knights) and other setups such as ...g6 or ...Bb4. It is a flexible, principled system.
Plans for White
White keeps the option of d4 to open the center, or Bb5 and d3 for a slower Spanish-style game. The knight on c3 supports e4 and the d5 square.
Plans for Black
Black can play 3...Nf6 for the Four Knights, 3...g6 with a fianchetto, or 3...Bb4 to pin the knight. In each case Black aims to fight for d4 and finish development.
Typical pawn structures
Usually a symmetrical e4/e5 center that opens if White plays d4.
Who it suits
Players who like classical development and want to steer toward Four Knights structures on their own terms, while keeping options that a direct 3.Bb5 or 3.Bc4 would rule out.
Common traps
Typical tactics revolve around the d5 square and pins on the c3 knight: careless ...Bb4 lines can let White play Nd5 with tempo.
Variations
- Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6
- Three Knights Opening: Winawer Defense — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 f5
- Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nd5 Nf6
- Three Knights Opening: Steinitz-Rosenthal Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nd5