Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, Tarrasch Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C49), reached after 14 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Be6.

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

Black queen — 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, Symmetrical Variation, Tarrasch Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C49. 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 14 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Be6.

It belongs to the Four Knights Game family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Spanish Variation → Symmetrical Variation → Tarrasch Variation line). The immediate parent line is Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 7…Be6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nf6, 3.Nc3 Nc6, 4.Bb5 Bb4, 5.O-O O-O, 6.d3 d6. 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.