Chessy
Three Knights Opening: Bb4 – The Nd5 Sortie
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3, Black pins your knight with 3...Bb4. You immediately break the pin with 4.Nd5, threatening the bishop and claiming central space. This position has been played over 480,000 times, and the engine gives you a small but clear edge. The drill below lets you practise the key ideas — especially what to do when Black replies with the best move, Nf6, and how to punish the common inaccuracies. Let's look at what the statistics and the engine reveal.
Play the Three Knights Opening: Bb4 against the engine
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Jump into the interactive drill now and practise punishing Black's mistakes after 4.Nd5. Create a free account to track your progress and master the Three Keys.
Create a free account →The Point of Nd5
The move 4.Nd5 does two jobs at once. First, it attacks the bishop on b4 and forces a decision — Black must either retreat, trade, or move a piece that can't afford to leave. Second, it occupies the centre with a well-supported knight. Unlike 4.d3 or 4.Bd2, which are solid but passive, Nd5 asks an immediate question. The engine evaluates the position at +0.64, a clear advantage for White, so you are already standing slightly better. The challenge is to keep that edge through the next few moves, because Black has several plausible replies and some of them are traps for the unwary.
The Engine's Favourite: 4...Nf6
The computer recommends Nf6, counter-attacking your knight on d5. The best continuation is Nf6 Nxb4 Nxb4 d4. White comes out with the bishop pair and a solid pawn centre — a classic small edge. In the 142,691 games where Black played Nf6, White scored 48.8%. That win rate is a bit below the overall average, which tells you this is the line where Black's defence is toughest. Don't be discouraged: your advantage remains real, and the engine line shows a clean, principled way to maintain it. Exchange knights, recapture with the pawn if needed, and enjoy the two bishops.
Two Mistakes You Can Punish
Black has two common inaccuracies here, both losing roughly 0.6 pawns according to the engine. The first is Ba5, played in 71,949 games (White scores 47.6%). Retreating to the edge of the board leaves the bishop passive and gives you time to strengthen your centre. The second is Nge7, seen in 22,062 games (White scores 52.4%). Black brings out a knight but blocks their own bishop on f8. In both cases, the engine says Nf6 would have been better. When you face Ba5 or Nge7, ask yourself: can I develop with gain of time, or can I open the centre? Your extra space and active pieces should translate into a tangible advantage if you keep the initiative.
What the Statistics Tell You
Over 480,159 games, the results are remarkably balanced: White wins 50.1%, draws 4.0%, Black wins 45.9%. The low draw rate (just 4%) shows that this opening leads to sharp, decisive games — club players rarely offer or accept a handshake here. The most-played Black replies after 4.Nd5 are Nf6 (142,691 games), Bc5 (102,089 games), Ba5 (71,949 games), d6 (64,940 games), Bd6 (40,008 games), and Nge7 (22,062 games). Notice that the second-most popular move, Bc5, scores only 49.7% for White — slightly less than the average. And the more solid-looking d6 and Bd6 actually give White the best scores (51.3% and 52.5% respectively). That pattern is a reminder: Black's most natural developing moves often let you keep your plus; their trickier retreats need a sharper answer.
Results across 480,159 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 142,691 | 48.8% |
| Bc5 | 102,089 | 49.7% |
| Ba5 | 71,949 | 47.6% |
| d6 | 64,940 | 51.3% |
| Bd6 | 40,008 | 52.5% |
| Nge7 | 22,062 | 52.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 4.Nd5 a good move against the Bb4 pin?
Yes. It attacks the bishop and stakes a claim in the centre. The engine gives you a +0.64 advantage after 4.Nd5, meaning you are slightly better as White. It's a principled, active continuation that breaks the pin immediately.
What should White do after 4...Nf6?
The engine recommends Nf6 Nxb4 Nxb4 d4. You capture the bishop, let Black recapture with the knight, then push d4 to seize the centre. You come out with the bishop pair and a solid pawn structure.
Which Black replies are mistakes in this position?
Ba5 and Nge7 are both inaccuracies, losing about 0.6 pawns each. The engine says Nf6 was better in both cases. Against Ba5 the bishop is poorly placed; against Nge7 Black blocks their own development.
How often does White win after 4.Nd5?
In the Lichess database, White wins 50.1% of games, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 45.9%. The low draw rate means the position is tense and usually produces a decisive result.