Four Knights Variation, American Attack
- 1.e4c5
- 2.Nf3e6
- 3.d4cxd4
- 4.Nxd4Nc6
- 5.Nc3Nf6
- 6.Ndb5Bb4
- 7.Nd6+
710 games
Sicilian Four Knights line in which White answers 6...Bb4 with the knight check 7. Nd6+, a rare, forcing try that Black meets well in practice.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the American Attack
After 6...Bb4, White ignores the pin and drives the b5-knight into d6 with check, aiming to disrupt Black's castling. The usual reply, 7...Ke7, leaves the king in the center but keeps the bishop, and Black scores strongly with it. 7...Kf8 is a rare alternative. Capturing with 7...Bxd6 gives up the dark-squared bishop, and White's results improve markedly after it. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and the line is seldom played.