Three Knights Opening

Which version? There is more than 1.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4

A long time ago when I played the Berlun, I also played the former. Now I play the latter, and nobody here on chess.com seems to know the right move - 4.Nxe5. Everyone seems to play 4.d3, allowing Black a very strong position.

Wait a min, I thought the 3 Knights opening came from the Vienna Game?

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3

Are you saying people are reaching the 3 Knights Openings vs. Petroff?

Is that really the proper way of reaching the 3 Knights? I have doubts.

Uhm, are you smoking something? 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 is the exact same position as 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3. Doesn't matter which Knight White plays first. If Black plays both knights as well, it is the Four Knights. Otherwise ...Nc6 and ...g6 or ...Nf6 and ...Bb4 are both the Three Knights Opening.

How you arrive at any opening doesn't matter. 1.d4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.e4 d5 is still the French Winawer. There is no PROPER ORDER for any opening.

It is also known in some countries as the Russian Defense. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 and then 3.d4 or 3.Nxe5 (3.Nc3 Bb4 is the 3 Knights and 3.Nc3 Nc6 is the 4 Knights) and after 3.Nxe5, you have 3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 and now 5.d4 is the old main line while 5.Nc3 is the modern line while 5.d3 directly transposes to the French Defense after 5...Nf6 6.d4 d5.

Formally, the starting position for the 3 knights game is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 and now something other than 3...Nf6.

Ok thanks

Yeah, The Original Move Order doesn’t seem like it has aged well.

I would argue the Vienna Game is the more Modern way of reaching the position.

I would recommend for you to play the Vienna Game to reach your desired 3 Knights Position.

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Statistically, the chances of you reaching the position are a lot lower if you use the other move order which is a massive issue!

100% the Move Order matters!

I will not bore you with images & statistic data.

No need to be nerdy about this.

It is a simple situation and so now you know my thoughts on the issue.

“Key part to remember - The position is the same, but not the same!”

When there are multiple ways to reach an opening that you play, you have to ask yourself which anti-lines are less annoying.

If you play the Taimanov Sicilian, 2...Nc6 and 4...e6 leads to the Rossolimo while 2...e6 and 4...Nc6 leads to 3.b3 and KIA lines.

The Stonewall or Classical Dutch, 1...e6 allows the French, 1...f5 allows the Staunton Gambit, Poisoned Spike Gambit, 2.Nc3, and 2.Bg5. Against 1...e6, White can do 2.Nc3, but Black has not committed to ...f5 and could do 2...d5 or 2...Bb4 instead.

So the better move order is whichever move order you are more tolerable of the "Anti-" lines.

It’s not so much about what line is more tolerable.

What I was getting at was more about the Likelihood/Frequency the line would reach the OP desired position.