Chessy
Sicilian: Four Knights for Black
The Sicilian: Four Knights gives White an early choice, but the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 is already sharp and practical for Black to handle. Stockfish rates this +0.46, a small edge for White. That means you are a little worse, so your task is not to guess — it is to know the best reply and punish the most common inaccuracies in the drill below.
Play the Sicilian: Four Knights against the engine
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Create a free account →The key decision: take first and keep the pressure
At this exact position, the engine’s best move is Nxc6. The suggested continuation is Nxc6 bxc6 e5 Nd5, which shows the kind of positions you are aiming for: active piece play, an open structure, and clear targets to work with. In these lines, Black is not trying to sit passively. You want to stay alert, simplify on your terms, and make White justify the central space they have claimed.
What the database says about this position
This position has been reached 1,345,575 times in the Lichess database, so it is a very useful drill spot rather than a rare sideline. White wins 44.6%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 51.4%. That result should give you confidence: even though the engine gives White the better of it, practical results are good for Black here. The opening is playable, but only if you meet White’s most common choices accurately.
White’s main choices you should expect
White’s most-played continuations are Bg5 (279,239 games, White scores 43.2%), Be3 (269,964 games, White scores 45.4%), Nxc6 (252,851 games, White scores 43.5%), Bc4 (85,564 games, White scores 43.3%), Bb5 (82,211 games, White scores 44.2%), and Be2 (74,812 games, White scores 47.5%). Your practical job is simple: recognise these setups quickly and keep your response grounded in the same opening knowledge each time. The drill will help you get used to the typical move order and the pressure White applies.
Watch for the two stated mistakes
Two moves are singled out as mistakes in this position. Bc4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; the better move was Nxc6. Bb5 is a mistake and loses about 1.0 pawns; again, Nxc6 was better. That tells you something important: White can drift into slightly worse play if they choose a less precise bishop move. When that happens, do not let the initiative slip away — use the chance to reach the favourable exchange structure the engine wants.
Results across 1,345,575 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg5 | 279,239 | 43.2% |
| Be3 | 269,964 | 45.4% |
| Nxc6 | 252,851 | 43.5% |
| Bc4 | 85,564 | 43.3% |
| Bb5 | 82,211 | 44.2% |
| Be2 | 74,812 | 47.5% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this position from?
This is the Sicilian: Four Knights, ECO code B45. The position comes after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6, with White to move and you playing Black.
Is the position good for Black?
The engine gives +0.46, which is a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, so you should play accurately rather than assume the opening is equal.
What is the engine’s best move for Black here?
The best move is **Nxc6**. The listed continuation is **Nxc6 bxc6 e5 Nd5**, which is the line the drill is built around.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most common continuations are **Bg5**, **Be3**, **Nxc6**, **Bc4**, **Bb5**, and **Be2**. The drill is useful because those are the moves you are most likely to face in practice.
How many games feature the Sicilian: Four Knights?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Sicilian: Four Knights position. White wins 44.6%, Black wins 51.4%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.