ECO A15 · English Opening

English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation

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

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. d4+0.71

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation (A15), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.71).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.714. d4 Bf5 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. h3 h6 8. Ne5 e6
  2. +0.644. e4 Nb6 5. d4 Bg4 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 N8d7 8. h3 Bxf3
  3. +0.344. g3 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. e4 Nb6 7. a4 a5 8. Be3 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing Bf5 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. h3 h6 8. Ne5 e6. White is slightly better (+0.71). The next best moves are 4. e4 (+0.64) and 4. g3 (+0.34).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.71: 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, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation?
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+).