ECO A20 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation

1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 e4

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

3. Nd4−0.18

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation (A20), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nd4 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.18).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.183. Nd4 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qb3 Bc5 7. Nde2 O-O
  2. −0.393. Ng1 Nf6 4. d3 exd3 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qxd3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5
  3. −1.943. Ne5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d3 Nf6 6. dxe4 Ke8 7. g3 Nxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nd4 for White, continuing Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qb3 Bc5 7. Nde2 O-O. The position is roughly equal (−0.18). The next best moves are 3. Ng1 (−0.39) and 3. Ne5 (−1.94).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.18: 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, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation?
A20. 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+).