ECO A25 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6

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

3. g3+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian (A25), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. g3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.313. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nd5 O-O 6. a3 Bd6 7. d3 Nxd5
  2. +0.153. Nf3 Nf6 4. e4 Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Bc5 7. b4 Bb6
  3. +0.043. a3 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf4 7. d4 exd4

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Nd5
  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2
  • 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. e4 O-O 5. Nge2 Nc6 6. Bg2
  • 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 Bg4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. g3 for White, continuing Bb4 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nd5 O-O 6. a3 Bd6 7. d3 Nxd5. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.15) and 3. a3 (+0.04).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: white is slightly better. 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, Reversed Closed Sicilian?
A25. 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+).