Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6

ECO C49

The Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation is a chess opening line in the Four Knights Game complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 d6.

It is catalogued under code C49 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move d6 is chosen by Black on move 6.

3 named continuations branch from this position, including the Blake Variation and the Metger Unpin.

Named variations

• Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Blake Variation — ECO C49
• Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Metger Unpin — ECO C49
• Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Tarrasch Variation — ECO C49

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Scotch Opening course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.