Tree path 8 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › French Variation › Open › Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation › Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation › Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
B45

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B45.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

It is reached after 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

4 named variations grow from this line, including American Attack, Cobra Variation, Exchange Variation, and others.

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ECO code
B45
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
10
Parent
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
Direct variations
4

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Variations (4)