ECO A28 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6

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

4. e4+0.15

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation (A28), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e4 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.15).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.154. e4 Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b6 8. Be2 Ne7
  2. +0.144. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. d3 Be7 8. a3 O-O
  3. +0.064. d4 e4 5. Nd2 Bb4 6. e3 O-O 7. Be2 Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Ne5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e4 for White, continuing Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 b6 8. Be2 Ne7. The position is roughly equal (+0.15). The next best moves are 4. g3 (+0.14) and 4. d4 (+0.06).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.15: 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, Four Knights Variation?
A28. 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+).