ECO A15 · English Opening

English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6

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

3. d4+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation (A15), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.603. d4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5
  2. +0.563. Nc3 e5 4. d4 e4 5. Ng5 Bf5 6. f3 exf3 7. gxf3 Be7
  3. +0.413. g3 e5 4. Bg2 c5 5. Nc3 Be7 6. d3 Nc6 7. O-O O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.56) and 3. g3 (+0.41).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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, Old Indian Formation?
A15. 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+).