Four Knights Game - Chess Openings Explained

Jonathan Schrantz teaches an opening where all four Knights move toward the center. It's pretty and symmetrical, but there are sharp lines you should know. Learn the Scotch Four Knights, the Glek system, and more.
2016.03.28
Vladimir Kramnik vs Levon Aronian, Kramnik - Aronian (2012): C47 Four knights, Scotch, 4...exd4

[@Socialdogma]

I was the guy in the audience. I am from Michigan but was town for the week and spent several days at the club. I had a blast attending several lectures and just hanging out.

[@wowmegoguik]

Socialdogma Did you have to pay to attend the lectures?

[@Socialdogma]

No, the lectures were free but at that time I was a member.

[@rzj_stuff]

@@Socialdogma took u years to reply huh

[@mublysnubly3407]

@Calvin Anderson if it wasn't for you we wouldn't have gotten an answer thank you.

[@GODSHAND2393]

Were you now? I call BS...

[@sunsidhe]

These lectures are well researched and well presented. Shame the St Louis locals aren't turning out for them - they are still good viewing for the rest of us.

[@numera8892]

sunsidhe UU

[@IdoF47]

Yea. lol. 1 guy saw this live, then the recording was watched 100k times.

[@farhadpatwari]

1:25 Starting Position 1:50 Variations 2:12 Italian (Mistake) 3:30 4:08 4:42 6:12 Gluck 8:24 K_Q fork 9:13 accurate move 11:21

[@sleepy4x]

6:12 Glek (igor) not Gluck

[@SaugaSen]

Whose the grandmaster he’s referring to at 5:44 ?

[@codewriter3000]

2:13 "and this is actually a mistake already" I play this almost every single game when I'm white

[@sollertia_]

Lots of lower rated players or players who normally play the Italian that are surprised by weird defenses accidentally fall into the center fork trick... Imo it's not really a mistake for players of that level since it doesn't really lose material, just make Black's game easier to play (also relieving a lot of pressure from the aggressive light bishop which I find most dangerous in shorter time controls)

[@9FictioN4]

I just lost a game to this move (im a noob) and came here to see what the hell was I supposed to do lol

[@ShadMuffin]

Found this video by looking at my early games online, I played the four knights italian so much but usually went into the italian first.

[@djdeucejmusic]

Same. Lol

[@dangerzeh3053]

'Chess Openings Explained' is my favorite segment you guys do. Please keep them coming. If I lived in St. Louis, you would've had two people in the audience ;)

[@fuzzykoala6168]

Lefter Mc 4

[@Dhieen]

5

[@TF-sq4hj]

I think you had more audience here :D

[@Lord_Simonw]

1:25 starting position 1:50 variations 2:12 Italian four knight mistake 6:12 glek sistem 11:34 spanish four knights 12:17 knight d4 reply 13:10 game if u Castle here 15:24 game if u don't Castle here 16:20 bishop b4 reply 19:06 scotch four knights

[@GoldenBoyXCM]

only 1 person what a shame. I love your videos !!

[@edward4033]

Wow! Very well explained. You have a way of covering all the intricacies of this opening without making it confusing to beginners like myself.

[@TrondArneAusdal]

I love the concept of explaining the ideas in certain openings. What plans are normal in this and that opening etc. Super nice! Id love to see som Ruy Lopez and d4 opening breakdowns.

[@noahz]

I play the Russian game, which often transposes into the Four Knights, so I went looking for a video on it. Was happy to find this @JonathanSchrantz video

[@Majora1988]

Still asking for the King's Gambit Jon. :) Love your lectures still.

[@devanshraizadavaid3197]

+Majora1988 I started playing it a week ago. I would love to see the Schrantz exploration of it.

[@gregbattis]

+Majora1988 KG is terrible but I would like to see it too.

[@gregbattis]

No its terrible. But I do play it sometimes to mix things up.

[@Majora1988]

It's not so much that the King's Gambit is terrible, its just hard to get an advantage as white, because a GM won't try to maintain his material advantage, and will instead consolidate. I don't really agree with Fischer's refutation of the King's Gambit, but I do think that black equalizes without much difficulty with correct play.

[@GeneralBlorp]

This guy is awesome. He makes lecturing look easy and actually got me interested in this channel / revitalized my interest in chess. 👍

[@asd36f]

I've been a correspondence player for nearly 40 years, and in the last 10 or so years I turned to the Four Knights opening when playing White in an attempt from getting away from the highly-analysed variations of the major king pawn openings.

[@iPhonePhixer]

I was one of those who found the 4 knights game with Spanish variation. Since I found it, I use it often, but I didn’t know much of the knowledge in this video. I can tell I’ll watch this video over and over and over. I want to absorb it all.

[@charlesdarwin180]

One person turned up? My bet that it was none other than the chess maniac and former Missouri scholastic state champ, Mike Kummer.

[@sauryasircar5326]

I'd have turned up if I could.

[@joshuasuperneau6469]

I would love to see a more in depth analysis on the Glek System. I know Daniel Naroditsky plays h3 kh2 in a lot of variations in order to unpin the pawn on f2 and then prepare it for the pawn push. I would love to see the ins and outs of that system.

[@zarbilzerian]

You don't know how intermediate plays the 4 knights. White usually moves the pawn to D3 after the E4. The bishop is used to protect the knight from being pinned by black knight. And when you push the pawns in front of the king to make the blck bishop move, it moves one sqaure and if you push again, black sacrifies his knight, and black re pins the white knight and you cant move it because of your queen. If you move your queen, they take the knight and it opens up the white king. I am amazed how many 1800s fall under this trap. They just play as per theories and cant think of themselves when face with this.

[@MK-13337]

I study my openings from databases and books, but this series is fun and well explained. If I would request an opening it would be a 4... g6 variation of the Alekhines. (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6). Lots of tactical and super sharp lines, where black survives by miracles it seems.

[@krileym]

I'm here 5 years later trying to learn; great channel and thank you Mr. Schrantz!

[@zenbronzed]

66k views as of Aug 2020... no worries about there being only one in the audience. Great vid, Jonathan.

[@psilohead]

Jonathan is the best.

[@tsss1179]

+psilohead Agreed

[@mikebliss3153]

I have found the Four Knights to be a particularly strong and dynamic opening if you intend on controlling the board from the wings as opposed to developing material in the center.

[@Trondborg]

Excuse me please, my esteemed Sir Schrantz, I believe to know the match between Kramnik and Aronian ended tied in a 3:3, by +1 -1 =4, not in a win by Aronian, am I wrong? . Howsoever an extraordinary educational lecture as usual by a great Mr. Schranz, many thanks for this instructive lessons.

[@hi10drakk]

This guy is a PRO coach. Openings - 101 by Jonathan Schrantz.

[@matthewinrandwick]

Great video, thanks to you and everyone at the club! I'd love to head down to Saint Louis to check these out in person!

[@nahilismail3144]

5:24 afro mayev? i didnt get his name right can someone help me? i want to check out his games edit: found him! Vladimir Afromeev he won all of the games he played in everysigle opening as black except for one game? thasss crazyyyy

[@mikemcknight1295]

Greatly described. Thx for upload Jon.

[@richardsimon4135]

Don't be disappointed Jonathan, KZbin means that I'm always in your audience.

[@danielbarreto465]

appreciate the lecture. good video.

[@bernardotoresan4459]

Very nice lecture, congrats

[@dmaster20ify]

[11:17] Glect system. I don't understand how Grand master Shranz sees no adantage for black! White's light squared bishop is block in by white's pawns, while both of black's bishop are active. I normally played that system for black, and I never go for re routing my knight to play c6, d5 and attack white's centre. I aim for moving the f6 knight to play f5 and launch a kingside attack. I mean, my pawns are pointing towards the kingside and that is where my bishops also points. That's a surprising assement by Shranz, which will make wonder about my assessment. I mean he is a Grand master and I am not even a master.

[@sachinpaul2111]

Hello everyone, While I love avoiding the Italian 4 knights with what Johnathan suggested, what about a move order trick : e4 e5, Nf3 Nc6, Bc4 Bc5, Nc3

[@mychessbest4162]

4:42 what if e4 attacks the knight which is defending the knight on g5 when it moves take the knight on g5

[@kerimsever6674]

Can you do Evans gambit?

[@SaugaSen]

Whose the grandmaster he’s referring to at 5:44 ?

[@reza6718]

great video thanks

[@BigReno73]

great lesson as always

[@captainzork6109]

The F6 move at 24:17 sure excalated quickly o.O

[@MagmaTeja]

I recently saw an unusual opening for white against the Sicilian. It's called the Wing Gambit. Any chance of covering that in the future?

[@BixenteFabregas]

+Magma Thrower Best black response to the wing gambit is, after 1.e4 c5 2.b4, the acception of the gambit by 2...cxb4, and on 3.a3, the thematic 3...d5!. If 4.exd5 Qxd5 and this is an enhanced center-counter gambit because the queen cannot be pushed back by Nc3, and White cannot take the b4-pawn immediately. 5.axb4 is strongly met by Qe5+ and the a1-rook bites the dust. This variation removes practically all the venom of the gambit.

[@ucancallmedude8329]

Interestingly strong engines do not agree on the f3 sacrifice. More than one lection mentions it on YT, that it is really strong play for black and that Ng4 and Qh4 are unstoppable, but h3 recommended by stockfish, at 14:50 does give white +1.3 on evaluation as a response. Edit: After further analasys lichess stockfish ( which does not even see ng4 after h3, does give black over +4) simply sucks. Do your homework on your own people.

[@frostedpumpkin3910]

With the metger unpin, why doesn’t white just move the bishop back and keep the pin on the knight?

[@dawghousetv]

What if at 4:30, white knight takes pawn e5 to put in check? Then black knight recaptures, but white moves queen H5 putting in check, then can take black knight and pressure on other knight? Or am I wrong

[@amyschoenberger7916]

Hey Jon can you make a video of all the easiest checkmates!

[@RrockCj]

14:40 Bh3 kinda the better move with a possible fork against queen, and if declined , Ng4, with a following Queen

[@helloworld2049]

Hey could you please do a video about the tarrasch defense

[@Glicerol]

:P Why you only had one person on audience?

[@briangorman1079]

marking the Scotch 19:09

[@guycardwell2541]

7:22 Nxe4! with an improved Halloween gambit for black

[@tejas4039]

Thank you!

[@zaaxi7424]

Wow that fork trick will work great against players at my level, I hate seeing these positions in chess

[@aminalsharawy95]

in 35:34 white had a winning and it was to give a queen check in e8 and if kg7 then queen e5+ forking the rook and the king and if after queen e8 check black played kh7 then qxf7 and after kh8 qf8+ forking the king and the rook once again :-)

[@pfsloan2597]

Nice. 4 knights is only boring because most amateurs play it safe. There are many chances to play wide open like Kramnik-Aronian.

[@Glicerol]

Please do video about Belgrade Gambit :)

[@leventeadamszabo5852]

Is he doing it on purpose? Eye-talian game? WTF?! Great game and great lecture by the way- as always. I miss his opening theory lectures...

[@davidelederman7337]

Computer says there is nothing wrong with that line of the Italian four nights, white is slightly better

[@2woinfinity718]

after the fork trick. what if Bxd5?

[@joebortiatynski3192]

Thank you

[@adebayoadegboyega1658]

Why skip, over the Scotch four knights. You see these breezing comments, black is ok, but you face the line and face awesome difficulties. Please go back and do the Scotch four knights!!

[@lewiscooke-carroll1771]

if white at 4:55 castles doesn't e4 win?

[@Usha_Prasanna]

Thanks a lot

[@msaravanan5971]

Wonderful

[@bodaraparth8643]

Good!!!

[@spectralanalysis]

Jeez, Kramnik was a monster

[@davidbrianorchard1623]

ty for this..

[@martinb.3997]

15:37 Castling without the castle

[@khahamdebbarma2583]

I came here after losing against an opponent playing scotch four knights

[@bm8350]

Funny enough my engine says black is up about a pawn after g4.

[@MiguelGonzalez-mt7hv]

Found this video because I just lost a match playing the Italian variation and it hurt. Hopefully wont make that mistake again

[@Dhieen]

Only one person in the audience? wtf?

[@stephanfrion2805]

scotch 4 knights 19:17

[@iNFaunTae]

the i-talian

[@noneofyourbusiness6269]

eye-talian

[@md65000]

Did he really say "eye-talian"?

[@DoctaHobo]

2:16 for why Bc4 is bad

[@StygianStyle]

The eye talyin. The bell grad gambit.

[@eduardbeiline8353]

The Urusov Gambit please

[@BixenteFabregas]

+Eduard Beiline You can't alas play the Urusov gambit versus an opening expert. 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 seems to be fun until your opponent knows that 2...c6 is an excellent move... Bye bye Urusov.

[@eduardbeiline8353]

Not all know the Urusov Gambit

[@hamdanhussain12-e84]

Never knew ian from smosh is interested in chess

[@NOMVrewq]

rybka's fav

[@maximko1373]

You sound like dream @Socialdogma

[@rawr333r]

Ohhhh this is why im losing lol. I always play the italian and ALWAYS put all four knights out. Oops

[@gregbattis]

Chess club can you go over my game?

[@talentlogic1512]

12:31 he says doo doo lol

[@alexwschan185]

3:01 Why don't the Bishop just take the pawn, can the Bishop just take the pawn?

[@takcio9445]

yeah I'm thinking black queen takes bishop leaving black in a great position

[@takcio9445]

but idk

[@chessanalyst9648]

The amount of time where both sides castle and develop bishops to b5 and b4 pissed me off. I am known for liking positions that are dull but this is another level of dull. Pos opening at any cost I will avoid this lol...

[@santiagoargayo6409]

Why? Whats the problem with that position?

[@theshamsharmashow3968]

21:05 resume

[@Old_Chess_Man]

You don't want a King's gambit one Majora1988! it's butsted

[@TheMainStayz]

_gut_

[@sdgvscrwogs2483]

Somebody tell him it's pronounced "Italian" not "I-talian".

[@evans9951]

I accidentally disliked this sorry. Greetings from Canada . Sorry.

[@BorisNVM]

fornite