Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C49), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6.

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7.Bg5 3 lines

About this opening

Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Symmetrical 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 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6.

It belongs to the Four Knights Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Spanish Variation → Symmetrical Variation line). The immediate parent line is Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, transitioned via 6…d6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bb5 Bb4, 5.O-O O-O, 6.d3 d6. From this position exactly one named continuation is recorded in the encyclopaedia.