King's Knight Opening
Encyclopedia
The King's Knight Opening is a chess opening
consisting of the moves:
The opening is likely to continue into one of a number of other named openings, depending mainly on Black's second move.
These openings are all categorized in the ECO
under code C40.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
consisting of the moves:
- 1. e4 e5
- 2. Nf3
The opening is likely to continue into one of a number of other named openings, depending mainly on Black's second move.
Popular continuations
- 2...Nc6 (by far the most-played continuation, and can continue into many familiar opening lines such as the Ruy LopezRuy LopezThe Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del...
, Italian GameItalian GameThe Italian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:The game's defining move is the White king's bishop's move to c4 in preparation for an early attack on Black's vulnerable f7-square. As such the game is typified by aggressive play, where Black's best chances are often...
, Giuoco PianoGiuoco PianoThe Giuoco Piano is a chess opening beginning with the moves:Common alternatives to 3...Bc5 include 3...Nf6 , 3...Be7 , or 3...d6 .-History:...
, Scotch GameScotch GameThe Scotch Game is a chess opening that begins with the movesWhite aims to dominate the centre by exchanging his d-pawn for Black's e-pawn. Black usually plays 3...exd4, as he has no good way to maintain his pawn on e5...
, Four Knights GameFour Knights GameThe Four Knights Game is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The opening is fairly popular with beginners who strictly adhere to the opening principle: "Develop knights before bishops." It was one of the workhorses in the family of the Open Game, at even the highest levels, until World War...
, etc.) - 2...Nf6 (Petrov's DefencePetrov's DefencePetrov's Defence is a chess opening characterised by the following moves:Though this symmetrical response has a long history, it was first popularised by Alexander Petrov, a Russian chess player of the mid-19th century...
) - 2...d6 (the Philidor DefencePhilidor DefenceThe Philidor Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves:It is named after the famous 18th-century player François-André Danican Philidor, who advocated it as an alternative to the common 2...Nc6...
)
Other continuations
A number of less popular continuations are possible. These openings are generally considered to be less sound than those mentioned above.- 2...Qe7 (the Gunderam Defense)
- 2...Qf6 (the Greco DefenceGreco DefenceThe Greco Defence , named after Gioachino Greco , is a chess opening beginning with the moves:The opening is categorized as ECO code C40.-Discussion:...
) - 2...f6 (the Damiano DefenceDamiano DefenceThe Damiano Defence is a chess opening characterized by the opening moves#e4 e5#Nf3 f6?The ECO code for the Damiano Defence is C40 .-Details:...
) - 2...d5 (the Elephant GambitElephant GambitThe Elephant Gambit is a rarely played chess opening beginning with the moves:...
) - 2...f5 (the Latvian GambitLatvian GambitThe Latvian Gambit is an aggressive but dubious chess opening, which often leads to wild and tricky positions. This opening is uncommon at the top level of over-the-board play, but some correspondence chess players are devoted to it...
)
These openings are all categorized in the ECO
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is a classification system for the opening moves in a game of chess. It is presented as a five volume book collection describing chess openings...
under code C40.