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Four Knights Game

Scotch Variation, Oxford Gambit

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  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.Nc3Nf6
  4. 4.d4Bb4
  5. 5.d5Nd4
924 games57%39%

A rarely played gambit in the Scotch Four Knights where Black meets 5. d5 with 5...Nd4, leaving e5 unguarded; engines rate it clearly bad for Black.

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About the Oxford Gambit

The Oxford Gambit, 5...Nd4, answers the advance 5. d5 by planting the attacked knight on d4 instead of retreating it, which leaves the e5 pawn without a defender. Engines consider the idea unsound and give White a large advantage. The usual reply is 6. Nxd4, while 6. Nxe5, grabbing the pawn at once, scores especially well for White. The less common 6. Bd2 has brought Black better results in online games.

Popular continuations