Willis: The Sicilian Four Knights - A Simple and Sound Defense to 1.e4A Straightforward and Solid Way to Meet 1. e4 With all the many books and articles on the Sicilian Defense, there is surprisingly little about the Four Knights Variation. Its starting position is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6. It may also be reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6. Some prefer 2 e6 to 2 Nc6 because it avoids 3. Bb5. The fundamentals of the Sicilian Four Knights are not