ECO A20 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation

1. c4 e5 2. Nf3

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

2… e4−0.08

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation (A20), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… e4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.08).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.082… e4 3. Nd4 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qc2 Nxd4 7. exd4
  2. +0.122… Nc6 3. d4 e4 4. Nfd2 f5 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Ndb1
  3. +0.372… d6 3. Nc3 f5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. b4 O-O 7. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… e4 for Black, continuing 3. Nd4 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qc2 Nxd4 7. exd4. The position is roughly equal (−0.08). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (+0.12) and 2… d6 (+0.37).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.08: 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 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+).