ECO A21 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4

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

3. g3+0.24

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack (A21), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. g3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.243. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 a5 5. d3 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd2 Re8
  2. +0.233. Nd5 a5 4. a3 Bc5 5. e3 c6 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 Ba7
  3. +0.193. Nf3 Bxc3 4. bxc3 e4 5. Nd4 Nf6 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Re8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. g3 for White, continuing Nf6 4. Bg2 a5 5. d3 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd2 Re8. The position is roughly equal (+0.24). The next best moves are 3. Nd5 (+0.23) and 3. Nf3 (+0.19).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.24: 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, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack?
A21. 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+).