ECO A14 · English Opening

English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3

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

5… d4+0.01

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3 (A14), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… d4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.01).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.015… d4 6. Bb2 c5 7. b4 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. d3 Bf8 10. b5
  2. +0.135… O-O 6. O-O c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. d4 Ne4 9. Bb2 Bf6 10. Nc3
  3. +0.135… c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 Ne4 8. O-O Bf6 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. Nc3

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 b6
  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… d4 for Black, continuing 6. Bb2 c5 7. b4 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. d3 Bf8 10. b5. The position is roughly equal (+0.01). The next best moves are 5… O-O (+0.13) and 5… c5 (+0.13).
Is the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.01: the position is roughly equal. 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, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3?
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+).