ECO A40 · English Defense

English Defense: Perrin Variation

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. Ne2+0.66

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Defense: Perrin Variation (A40), reached after 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Ne2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.66).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.665. Ne2 Nb4 6. O-O Nxd3 7. Qxd3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. e5 Ne7
  2. +0.555. Nf3 Nb4 6. Nc3 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3 Bb4 8. d5 Ne7 9. Bd2 d6
  3. +0.415. d5 Ne5 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Ne2 Ne7 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Nxc3 Nxd3+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Defense: Perrin Variation?
After 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Ne2 for White, continuing Nb4 6. O-O Nxd3 7. Qxd3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. e5 Ne7. White is slightly better (+0.66). The next best moves are 5. Nf3 (+0.55) and 5. d5 (+0.41).
Is the English Defense: Perrin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.66: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the English Defense: Perrin Variation?
A40. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).