Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C48), reached after 18 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6.

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, Rubinstein Variation, Maróczy 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 18 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Be2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6.

It belongs to the Four Knights Game family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Spanish Variation → Rubinstein Variation → Maróczy Variation line). The immediate parent line is Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Rubinstein Variation, transitioned via 9…Bb6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bb5 Nd4, 5.Be2 Nxf3+, 6.Bxf3 Bc5. 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.