ECO A16 · English Opening

English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3

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

4… Nxc3+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation (A16), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nxc3 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.304… Nxc3 5. bxc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. d4 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5
  2. +0.334… c5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5
  3. +0.384… Nc6 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 e5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. d4 Bd7 9. O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6
  • 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nb6
  • 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Nxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nxc3 for Black, continuing 5. bxc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. d4 c5 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. d5. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 4… c5 (+0.33) and 4… Nc6 (+0.38).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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: Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation?
A16. 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+).