megazord wrote on 08/01/07 at 18:11:03:
Is the four knights still an aggressive option for white? I Know there used to be a lot of tricky lines and gambits, has black found ways to play against those?
Really it depends what level you're playing at. I think that either the Scotch or Spanish Four Knights set problems sufficient to cause an under-2000 player, or even a stronger one, to lose, particularly if he's the worse player. Each is "aggressive" its own way. The Scotch Four Knights looks to a very straightforward kingside attack with pieces in an open position (though there are ways of playing that try to emphasize Black's pawn weaknesses). To win with the Spanish Four Knights you either have to grub for a pawn when Black plays 4...Nd4, or play a maneuvering game with a blocked center, typically with kingside attack in mind, if Black plays ...Bb5 and defends well. If 4...Bc5 I recommend 5. 0-0 0-0 (5...d6 6. d4) 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. d4 Bd6 8. f4.
For young and improving players I would recommend the Scotch Four Knights before the Spanish version, just because I think understanding how to handle open positions is fundamental.
As MNb correctly points out, neither of these systems is considered very challenging for Black to meet at high levels of play. Oddly enough though, each has been in and out of fashion among the top players within the past 20 years. So how bad can either be, really?
You might also look at the Glek System, 4. g3. For me though, that move is impossible to believe in.
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4 Knights (Read 5508 times)
