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Very recently I played against the Four Knights Scotch. Today’s game is against the Four Knights Italian!

The thing to know about the Four Knights Italian (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bc4) is that it can be very good for Black at the beginner-intermediate level, but you do need to know a few moves in the opening. The curious thing is that the opening seemingly obeys opening principles for White – take the centre with pawns, develop your minor pieces, knights before bishops. Although the Four Knights Italian is completely fine for White, it is just a touch slow, and slow enough that White will often be taken off guard with the following opening attack by Black!

And that is, (4… Nxe4!). What is interesting is that this is the best move evaluation-wise for Black – it’s not an inaccurate move at all. However, this aggressive move is only played by Black in about 1 in 10 games according to the Lichess community database! This does mean that White will often not be expecting it, and even if they’ve seen it before, not likely to have much experience against it at the beginner-intermediate level.

White captures the knight (5. Nxe4) but Black now has the powerful (5… d5) forking White’s knight and bishop in the centre of the board! Evaluation-wise, White is still completely fine – Stockfish calls it just about equal – but it is a tricky position for White to navigate. In the Lichess database, the win ratio is Black (59%) vs White (37%) – crushing on move 5!

The only good move for White is Bd3, but this is neither obvious, and nor is it commonly played. Usually, White will misplay this position and Black gets a major advantage right out of the opening. In this game, White plays (6. Bb5??), which is a blunder, though I didn’t quite take full advantage of it in the game. The move makes sense for White, with the bishop pinning Black’s c6-knight to the king, and it looks like after (6… dxe4 7. Nxe5) that White regains material equality and has a double attack on Black’s knight.

However, this seeming advantage is illusory. White’s advanced pieces are without any pawn support and are thus off-side. Black’s queen has the powerful Qg5 – a fork of the g2-pawn (which gives Blackburne-Shilling Gambit trap line vibes!) and of White’s e5-knight which is skewered to the b5-bishop!

I didn’t see this in the game but found a non-quite as powerful alternate queen move (7… Qd5), putting the queen in the centre and with a fork of White’s knight and bishop on the fifth rank. Stockfish called this a mistake, but the evaluation is still [-1.2]. However, I do flub the exchange by not appreciating which piece (knight or bishop) I should capture first and Stockfish reckons that at the end, the position is basically equal again [-0.1]. However, I would argue that though that might be the case, it’s a lot easier to play for Black than White!

Consider a couple of turns later, move 11, we both castle kingside and enter the middlegame. Black has the bishop pair and the queen ready to attack White’s kingside. White’s pieces do not have immediate access for an attack.

And from the middlegame, I completely capture the initiative and White is forced into the defensive, eventually being overwhelmed. I put my queen and bishop into a battery – threatening checkmate on h2. White is forced to play (14. g3) to block the mate, but this wins a major concession as they’ve weakened the light square in front of their king. I’m able to immediately exploit this with my light square bishop (14… Bh3). White is forced to move their rook – losing tempo. I rotate bishop (16… Bf3), which now comes with an attack on White’s queen – again, White needs to respond to my initiative.

And on move 17 (17… Bf3), the bishop rotation around White’s king’s defensive pawns is done and White would have been able to see the mating attack. Technically, Stockfish thinks that White could defend this and pull the game into a (losing) endgame, but they needed to find (18. Qc3), threatening a checkmate threat of their own and then trading away the attack. This is not easy to find. The second best move for White was to sacrifice their queen for Black’s e4-pawn – very difficult to contemplate!

Instead, White played (18. Re3??) to trade their rook for my bishop. Although this makes sense from a “one-move” perspective, it doesn’t work as at the end of the trade sequence (19. Rxf3 exf3), the bishop has been replaced with a pawn, which is still attacking the g2-square. Checkmate with Qg2 is unavoidable and White resigned. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to learn how to play the opening of the Four Knights Italian with the Black pieces! The critical move is Nxe4 on move 4 and it’s a very winning move!

Game: https://www.chess.com/game/live/102134017433

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.02.20"]
[Round "-"]
[White "alexishernan1985"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[CurrentPosition "r4rk1/p1p2ppp/2pb4/8/B1P5/1P3pPq/PBQP1P1P/1R4K1 w - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C47"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Four-Knights-Game-Italian-Variation-4...Nxe4-5.Nxe4-d5"]
[UTCDate "2024.02.20"]
[UTCTime "02:08:00"]
[WhiteElo "1248"]
[BlackElo "1302"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "02:08:00"]
[EndDate "2024.02.20"]
[EndTime "02:14:55"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/102134017433"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/322275235.8d171a09.50x50o.d3c6400e3541@2x.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "95"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723@2x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:07.1]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:07.5]} 2. Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:15.2]}
2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:15.3]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:24.2]} 3... Nf6 {[%clk
0:15:22.5]} 4. Bc4 {[%clk 0:15:32.9] Four Knights Game: Italian Variation - it's
great when the Italian heads down this line as Black has an immediate advantage $1
[-0.1]} 4... Nxe4 $1 {[%clk 0:15:30.3][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false] This is tactically the
best move by far and although White is technically fine, often they are
scrambling for equality. At the beginner-intermediate levels, White is often not
expecting this aggressive move as Nxe4 occurs in only about 1 in 10 games from
the previous position according to the Lichess community database.} 5. Nxe4
{[%clk 0:15:41.3]} 5... d5 {[%clk 0:15:39.4][%c_arrow
d5e4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false,d5c4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false,e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false]
And in this position, Black has a win ratio of 59\% vs 37\% (White) $1} 6. Bb5 $4
{[%clk 0:15:36.6][%c_arrow
c4d3;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] The correct move for White is Bd3,
but few people find it (only about 1 in 6). This move, however, is a blunder
[-2.2] as White sacrifices a piece.} 6... dxe4 {[%clk 0:15:47.5]} 7. Nxe5 {[%clk
0:15:45.7]} 7... Qd5 $2 {[%clk 0:15:41.5][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8g5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] I didn't find the
best move here which is Qg5 but Qd5 is still fine [2.2 $37 -1.2]. Qg5 is best as
it looks potentially like a skewer of White's knight and bishop, and even if
they find d4, Qxg2 is then very winning $1} 8. Nxc6 $2 {[%clk 0:15:41.1][%c_arrow
b5c6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] However, this
queen fork is still fine as it forces a trade of pieces, which then nerfs
White's development} 8... bxc6 $2 {[%clk 0:15:49.9][%c_arrow
d5b5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] However, here I
was a bit intemperate and immediate captured the knight with the pawn as I
didn't appreciate the difference with capturing the bishop first. This was a
relatively mistake and Stockfish believes the the evaluation is back close to
equality [-0.1]. However, I would argue that it is relatively easier to play
with Black.} 9. c4 $2 {[%clk 0:15:49.3][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b5e2;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false] In this complicated
position, White attempted to counterattack and keep their development. However,
their best approach was to consolidate making this a mistake [-0.1 $37 -1.6]} 9...
Qd6 {[%clk 0:14:50.5]} 10. Ba4 {[%clk 0:15:55.5]} 10... Be7 {[%clk 0:14:49]} 11.
O-O {[%clk 0:16:02.8]} 11... O-O {[%clk 0:14:57.4] As we enter the middlegame,
notice that my bishops and queen are facing White's kingside. White has lesser
development and less immediate attacking chances.} 12. b3 $2 {[%clk
0:15:59.8][%c_arrow
a4c2;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false][%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake as it traps White's light
square bishop onto the wrong side of the board [-2.8]} 12... Qe5 $2 {[%clk
0:14:58.5][%c_arrow
d6g6;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish didn't agree with this
[-0.7]. I did think about Qg6 and that was the best move. However, my logic was
a direct assault on White's h2 square and I thought that I'd win tempo by
forcing White to move their rook in a way that doesn't benefit their
position...} 13. Rb1 {[%clk 0:16:03.8]} 13... Bd6 {[%clk 0:15:07.1][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d6h2;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false] There we go - I
expected that White would see this but...} 14. g3 {[%clk 0:16:11.9] ... they
would be forced to give a concession and with g3, White has weakened the light
squares around their king, which gives me something to tactically exploit $1}
14... Bh3 {[%clk 0:14:33.8]} 15. Bb2 {[%clk 0:16:19.4]} 15... Qf5 {[%clk
0:13:58.9][%c_arrow
f5f3;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false,f3g2;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false,h3f1;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false] Notice the exploit of
the light squares $1} 16. Re1 $4 {[%clk 0:16:25.9][%c_arrow
a4c6;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Blunder;persistent;true] This is a serious mistake [-4] but a
very natural move $1 The correct move is to keep the rook hung and to play Bxc6, a
very difficult move to see $1} 16... Bg4 {[%clk 0:13:32.6] Capturing White into my
flow with the attack $1} 17. Qc2 {[%clk 0:16:25]} 17... Bf3 {[%clk
0:13:34.6][%c_arrow
f5h3;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false,h3g2;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false]
Again, exploiting the light squares and it's extremely difficult for White to
navigate the position $1} 18. Re3 $4 {[%clk 0:16:01.9][%c_effect
e3;square;e3;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c2c3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false] This blunders
[-M4]. White's only good move is Qc3, threatening checkmate with the
bishop-queen battery. The next best move is for the queen to sacrifice herself
for the e4-pawn with Qxe4. This removes the necessary attacking piece for
checkmate $1} 18... Qh3 $1 {[%clk 0:13:36.8][%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false] It's all over...} 19.
Rxf3 {[%clk 0:16:06.9]} 19... exf3 {[%clk 0:13:45.6][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Winner,g1;square;g1;type;ResignWhite][%c_arrow
h3g2;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false,g2g1;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,g2h1;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;h1;persistent;false,g2f1;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,h1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h1;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false]
And White resigns, GG $1 White can delay checkmate a few turns with spite checks
(e.g., Qxh7+) but will not be able to avoid their fate.} 0-1