Exercise 5.1Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
5
Your First Openings · Kapilash Chess Academy
The Four Knights
Simple, solid development
In this lesson you will learn
- The Four Knights position
- The Spanish Four Knights with ♗b5
- Symmetry and how to break it
- A safe opening for beginners
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
5.1 Knights First
In the Four Knights both sides bring out both knights before anything else. It follows the rule knights before bishops perfectly and leads to calm, logical positions — an excellent opening for players who are learning.
Diagram 5.1White to move
The Spanish Four Knights
White develops the bishop to b5 and both sides castle.
The position is symmetrical, but White, moving first, is the one who decides first how to break it — here with ♗g5, pinning the knight on f6.
Diagram 5.2White to move
The Scotch Four Knights
White opens the centre with d4.
Black hits back with ...d5. Again we see the rule: when the opponent opens the centre, fight for it with your own centre pawn.
Remember
- Four Knights: knights before bishops.
- ♗b5 or d4 are White’s main tries.
- Symmetry is broken by the side that acts first.
- A calm, safe choice for learning players.
Exercises · Lesson 5
Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine. Find the best move or choose the right answer.
Exercise 5.2Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 5.3Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 5.4Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 5.5Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 5.6Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 5.7Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.