ECO A20 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation

1. c4 e5

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

2. g3+0.17

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation (A20), reached after 1. c4 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. g3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.172. g3 d5 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qd7 6. Bg2 Nf6
  2. +0.132. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6
  3. −0.012. e3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nd5 g6 5. d3 Nxd5 6. cxd5 Ne7

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation?
After 1. c4 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. g3 for White, continuing d5 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qd7 6. Bg2 Nf6. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 2. Nc3 (+0.13) and 2. e3 (−0.01).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.17: 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: King's English Variation?
A20. 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+).