ECO A29 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6

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

7. d3+0.17

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, with Nb6 (A29), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. d3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.177. d3 Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4
  2. +0.177. O-O Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. Be3 Be6 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4
  3. +0.137. a3 Nd4 8. d3 Nxf3+ 9. exf3 Bd6 10. d4 O-O 11. O-O exd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. d3 for White, continuing Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 7. O-O (+0.17) and 7. a3 (+0.13).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6 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, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6?
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+).