Three Knights Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3

ECO C46

The Three Knights Opening is a chess opening reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3, catalogued under code C46 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nc3 is chosen by White on move 3.

4 named continuations branch from this position, including the Schlechter Variation and the Steinitz Defense.

Named variations

• Three Knights Opening: Schlechter Variation — ECO C46
• Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense — ECO C46
• Three Knights Opening: Steinitz-Rosenthal Variation — ECO C46
• Three Knights Opening: Winawer Defense — ECO C46

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.