Library/Openings/Italian Game/Two Knights Defense/Knight Attack ECO C57
Opening· 7 plies

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C57), reached after 7 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5.

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack ECO C57
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About this opening

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Knight Attack is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C57. 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 7 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5.

It belongs to the Italian Game family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Two Knights Defense → Knight Attack line). The immediate parent line is Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, transitioned via 4.Ng5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.Bc4 Nf6, 4.Ng5. From this position exactly one named continuation is recorded in the encyclopaedia.

Use the interactive board above to walk through the moves position-by-position. Click any move in the navigation to step backwards, or use the keyboard arrow keys. The list of recorded continuations sits directly below the board. For statistical data — how often master-level players have reached this position, White's win-rate, draw frequency, Black's score — see the panel in the right column.

Caissly's coverage of C57 extends through every named sub-variation in this line and across all four locales (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian). Where editorial commentary exists for a specific variation it appears as the page body; otherwise the page presents the structural data, board, and statistics as shown here.