ECO A14 · English Opening

English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O c5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nc6

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

8. d4+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense (A14), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O c5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.388. d4 O-O 9. e4 Nb6 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. e5 Be7
  2. +0.268. Nxd5 exd5 9. d4 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. a3 Bb6 12. b4 Bf5
  3. +0.218. d3 O-O 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Na5 12. Bf4 Bd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O c5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. d4 for White, continuing O-O 9. e4 Nb6 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. e5 Be7. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 8. Nxd5 (+0.26) and 8. d3 (+0.21).
Is the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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, Keres Defense?
A14. 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+).