King's Knight Opening

King's Knight Opening

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
ECO	C40 (-C99)
Parent	Open Game

The King's Knight Opening is a chess opening 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.

Main line: 2...Nc6

Most games (more than 80%) continue with 2...Nc6.

Some moves from here include:

• 3. Bb5: Ruy Lopez
  • 3...a6: Ruy Lopez, Morphy Defence (main line)
  • 3...Nf6: Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence
  • 3...d6: Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defence
  • 3...f5: Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defence
  • 3...Bc5: Ruy Lopez, Classical Defence
• 3. Bc4: Italian Game
  • 3...Bc5: Giuoco Piano
  • 3...Nf6: Two Knights Defence
• 3. d4: Scotch Game
• 3. Nc3: Three Knights Game
  • 3...Nf6: Four Knights Game
  • 3...g6: Three Knights Game (main)
• 3. c3: Ponziani Opening

Other Black defenses

• 2...Nf6: Petrov's Defense (C42)
• 2...d6: Philidor's Defense (C41)

Less common defenses

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 Defence)
• 2...f6 (the Damiano Defence)
• 2...d5 (the Elephant Gambit)
• 2...f5 (the Latvian Gambit)

These openings are all categorized in the ECO under code C40.