Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C48), reached after 9 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Ranken Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C48. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 9 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6.

It belongs to the Four Knights Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Spanish Variation → Ranken Variation line). The immediate parent line is Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, transitioned via 5.Bxc6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bb5 a6, 5.Bxc6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.