King's Knight Opening

Chess opening

a b c d e f g h

8

a8 black rook

b8 black knight

c8 black bishop

d8 black queen

e8 black king

f8 black bishop

g8 black knight

h8 black rook

a7 black pawn

b7 black pawn

c7 black pawn

d7 black pawn

f7 black pawn

g7 black pawn

h7 black pawn

e5 black pawn

e4 white pawn

f3 white knight

a2 white pawn

b2 white pawn

c2 white pawn

d2 white pawn

f2 white pawn

g2 white pawn

h2 white pawn

a1 white rook

b1 white knight

c1 white bishop

d1 white queen

e1 white king

f1 white bishop

h1 white rook

8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

a b c d e f g h

Moves1.e4 e5 2.Nf3ECO C40 (–C99)ParentOpen Game

The King's Knight Opening is a chess opening consisting of the moves:

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3

White's second move attacks the e-pawn. Black usually defends this with 2...Nc6, which leads to several named openings. Of the alternatives, the most important are Petrov's Defense (2...Nf6) and Philidor's Defense (2...d6).

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Main line: 2...Nc6

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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. 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

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Of the alternatives, 2...Nf6 (Petrov's Defense) is considered fully respectable and is common in grandmaster games. Philidor's Defense is playable but is seen more rarely.

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

Less common defenses

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A number of less popular continuations are possible. These openings are generally considered to be less sound than those mentioned above. These openings are all categorized in the ECO under code C40.