ECO A13 · English Opening

English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 c5

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

4. cxd5+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense (A13), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.364. cxd5 exd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be6 8. O-O h6
  2. +0.204. Bg2 d4 5. O-O Nc6 6. e3 Nf6 7. exd4 cxd4 8. Re1 Nd7
  3. +0.144. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bg2 Qa5+ 8. Qxa5 Nxa5

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. cxd5 for White, continuing exd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be6 8. O-O h6. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 4. Bg2 (+0.20) and 4. d4 (+0.14).
Is the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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 Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense?
A13. 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+).