English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3
4… Bb4−0.02
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line (A28), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bb4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.02).
Top engine moves
- −0.024… Bb4 5. Qc2 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 Qe7 7. Be2 d5 8. d4 Ne4 9. Qc2
- +0.184… Be7 5. d4 exd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O
- +0.204… d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bb5 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd7 8. d4 Bd6 9. O-O
Other move orders
- 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 Bxc3
- 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Nd5 Re8 7. Qf5
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bb4 for Black, continuing 5. Qc2 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 Qe7 7. Be2 d5 8. d4 Ne4 9. Qc2. The position is roughly equal (−0.02). The next best moves are 4… Be7 (+0.18) and 4… d5 (+0.20).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.02: 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, Quiet Line?
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+).