Chessy
The Two Knights Defense: d4 Line — Black's Equalising Plan
You've played the Two Knights Defense as Black — 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 — and now White pushes 4.d4, chopping open the centre. Let's look at the numbers. Across over four million games from this exact position, Black wins 43.6% of the time, White wins 53.2%, and draws make up 3.2%. That White win rate looks scary, but the engine says something different. Stockfish evaluates the position at +0.07, which is essentially dead level. Neither side is better out of the opening. The drill below will teach you exactly how to keep it that way — and how to punish White when they don't play the best move.
Play the Two Knights Defense: d4 against the engine
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Ready to make this line second nature? Hit the drill below — you'll face White's best move and every mistake, and the engine will adapt to your level. No signup
Create a free account →What Black Is Fighting For
In this sharp Italian game, White has sacrificed a pawn on d4 to open lines and gain tempos. Your job as Black is not to grab material and hold on — it's to return the pawn at the right moment to seize the initiative. The position is completely balanced (Stockfish gives +0.07, barely a whisper of an edge for White), so you are simply equal here. No need to over-defend or take crazy risks. Your goal is to develop naturally, keep the king safe, and make sure White's centre doesn't become a lasting threat.
The Best Move: e5
The engine's top move — and the most popular reply at 1.6 million games — is e5. That's right: you push your attacked knight forward, attacking White's f3 knight and forcing it to move. After 5.d5 (White pushes back your knight) 5...Bb5 (you check on b4, forcing White to block with a piece) 6.Ne4 (the knight finds a nice outpost), you've traded off your cramping d-pawn and activated every piece. This is the backbone of the Two Knights Defense: d4. Spend time with this line in the drill until it feels automatic.
Watch Out: White's Most Popular Moves (and Why Most Are Traps)
Here's the surprising part — most of White's popular replies are actually sub-par. Let's go through them from most to least common, with the engine's verdict: - e5 (1.6M games): The best move. White scores 54.9% here, but that's inflated by weaker play from Black who don't know the follow-up. - Nxd4 (920K games, White scores 48.6%): This is an inaccuracy. Grabbing the pawn with 4...Nxd4 drops about 0.6 pawns of advantage. You should play e5 instead. - O-O (877K games, White scores 56.1%): Not explicitly listed as a mistake, but the high White score suggests Black often falters. Stick to the engine's plan. - Ng5 (338K games, White scores 53.8%): Another inaccuracy — loses about 0.6 pawns. Don't fear this; your e5 push handles it. - c3 (215K games, White scores 52.8%): This is a straight-up mistake, losing about 1.5 pawns. If White plays c3, you can punish them. - Bg5 (81K games, White scores 46.3%): The rarest of the popular moves, and actually the one where White performs worst. Trust the engine.
How to Punish White's Mistakes
When your opponent plays c3 (1.5-pawn mistake) or grabs the pawn with Nxd4 (0.6-pawn inaccuracy), you are suddenly better. The key is knowing the engine's responses. Against c3, you don't need to overthink — develop naturally, keep your pieces active, and the extra tempo you gain will translate into a lasting advantage. Against Nxd4, remember that the best response is still e5 — pushing forward with your knight and maintaining the initiative. The drill below will train you against each of these lines so you can confidently outplay White from move 4.
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 a good move for White in the Two Knights Defense?
Yes — 4.d4 is the best move for White in this position. The evaluation is +0.07, meaning the position is dead level. White isn't better; they're just maintaining equality with correct play. But most amateur White players don't know the correct follow-up, which is why Black scores well.
Should I capture the d4 pawn with 4...Nxd4?
No. 4...Nxd4 is rated as an inaccuracy by the engine, losing about 0.6 pawns of advantage. The best move by far is 4...e5, pushing your attacked knight forward. Don't grab the pawn — counter-attack instead.
What is the engine's line after 4...e5?
After 4...e5, the engine suggests 5.d5 Bb5 6.Ne4. You push the knight forward, then check with your bishop on b4, and White blocks with Ne4. Your pieces come alive while White's are still tangled.
Why does White score 53.2% in practice if the engine says it's equal?
Because many Black players don't know the correct response (4...e5) and instead play sub-optimal moves like 4...Nxd4 or 4...Ng5. The engine's evaluation is theoretical perfect play; in practice, the side that knows the theory better wins. Learn the e5 line and you'll beat those stats.
How many games feature the Two Knights Defense: d4?
Over 4 million Lichess games have reached the Two Knights Defense: d4 position. White wins 53.2%, Black wins 43.6%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.