Library/Openings/Italian Game/Two Knights Defense/Keidansky Variation ECO C56
Opening· 18 plies

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Keidansky Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C56), reached after 18 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 9. Kf1 Qh4.

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Keidansky Variation ECO C56
87654321
abcdefgh
Black rook
Black bishop
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
White knight
White bishop
Black pawn
White pawn
Black knight
Black queen
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
Black bishop
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White knight
White bishop
White queen
White king
White rook
18/18
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.
  17. 9.
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

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Keidansky Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C56. 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. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8. Nxc6 Bxf2+ 9. Kf1 Qh4.

It belongs to the Italian Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Two Knights Defense → Keidansky Variation line). The immediate parent line is Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, transitioned via 9…Qh4.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bc4 Nf6, 4.d4 exd4, 5.e5 d5, 6.Bb5 Ne4. 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.