Chessy
Italian Game: Two Knights Defense — Playing Black After 4.d4 exd4
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4, you've reached the critical fork of the Two Knights Defense. White has several ways to continue, but you're not in trouble — Stockfish rates this +0.08, a microscopic edge for White that is essentially dead level. That means you are completely fine here as Black if you know the right reply. The drill below will test you against the most popular responses and punish you if you guess wrong, so let's get you up to speed.
Play the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: d4 against the engine
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Try the interactive drill below — play Black against the engine and learn to punish White's inaccuracies in the Two Knights Defense. Create a free account to. .
Create a free account →The One Move You Need to Know
From this position the engine's clear favourite is e5, a central thrust that chases the bishop and grabs space. The follow-up runs e5 d5 Bb5 Ne4 — you gain a tempo on the bishop, force it to a less active square, and plant a knight in the centre. Across over 1.6 million games where White played e5, White scores 54.9%, but that's inflated by the fact that many Black players don't know the best reply. Once you learn the engine line, you'll be right in the fight.
Which White Moves Should You Want to See?
Not all White options are equally dangerous. Here's what the statistics tell you: O-O (castling) is White's most punishing — White scores 56.1% across 877,138 games. e5 itself scores 54.9%, which is solid but very playable for you when you know the reply. The most interesting number belongs to Bg5: White scores only 46.3% here, meaning you actually outscore White from that position. And Nxd4? White scores just 48.6% — the least threatening of the popular moves. Keep that in mind: if White grabs the pawn with Nxd4, you're already doing well.
Three Mistakes White Can Make — and How to Exploit Them
The engine has identified three subpar White moves in this position. The two inaccuracies are Nxd4 (loses ~0.7 pawns) and Ng5 (also loses ~0.7 pawns). The outright mistake is c3 (loses ~1.5 pawns). If White plays c3, trying to build a pawn centre, they've handed you a meaningful advantage. Your task in the drill is to spot these and respond accurately — you don't need to memorise a deep refutation, just stay principled. The engine will show you the correct continuation each time.
What the Numbers Reveal About Your Chances
Looking at 4,122,859 games from this exact position, the overall picture is encouraging: White wins 53.2%, draws 3.2%, and Black wins 43.6%. That 43.6% is higher than you'd expect in most symmetrical double-king-pawn openings, and the tiny draw rate (3.2%) tells you this line produces sharp, decisive games. You're not playing for a draw here — you're playing to outplay your opponent when they pick one of the inaccurate moves. The drill will sharpen your instincts so you leave this tabiya with the better side more often than not.
Results across 4,122,859 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 1,623,033 | 54.9% |
| Nxd4 | 920,974 | 48.6% |
| O-O | 877,138 | 56.1% |
| Ng5 | 338,329 | 53.8% |
| c3 | 215,969 | 52.8% |
| Bg5 | 81,959 | 46.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 4.d4 exd4 in the Two Knights Defense good for Black?
Yes — the engine gives +0.08, which is a negligible edge for White and essentially equal. Statistically Black scores 43.6% from this position, which is very respectable for an open game. You are not worse out of the opening if you choose the correct reply.
What is the best move for Black after 4.d4 exd4?
The engine's top choice is e5, attacking the bishop on c4 and grabbing central space. The main continuation runs e5 d5 Bb5 Ne4, where you've driven the bishop back and posted a knight on e4.
What are the worst moves for White in this position?
The move c3 is a clear mistake, losing about 1.5 pawns. Nxd4 and Ng5 are both inaccuracies that lose around 0.7 pawns each. The engine's best move by far is e5.
Should Black castle early after 4.d4 exd4?
Castling is not the engine's first priority here. The most-played reply, e5, is a central break that doesn't involve kingside castling. You should focus on driving back the bishop and contesting the centre before worrying about king safety.
How many games feature the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: d4?
Over 4 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game: Two Knights Defense: d4 position. White wins 53.2%, Black wins 43.6%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.