ECO A29 · English Opening

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

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3

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

4… Bb4+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, Fianchetto Line (A29), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bb4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.15).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.154… Bb4 5. d3 e4 6. dxe4 Nxe4 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bc5 9. Bg5
  2. +0.214… d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 Be6 9. d3
  3. +0.314… Bc5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Nd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. Qc2

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4
  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6
  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3
  • 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 Bxc3 6. dxc3 d6 7. O-O O-O
  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 Be7 7. O-O O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bb4 for Black, continuing 5. d3 e4 6. dxe4 Nxe4 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bc5 9. Bg5. The position is roughly equal (+0.15). The next best moves are 4… d5 (+0.21) and 4… Bc5 (+0.31).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line 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, Fianchetto Line?
A29. 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+).