ECO A21 · English Opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Smyslov Defense

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4

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

4. d4+0.75

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Smyslov Defense (A21), reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.75).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.754. d4 Nd7 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O h6
  2. +0.564. d3 Nf6 5. g3 Qd7 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Rb8 8. h3 Be6
  3. +0.554. e3 Nd7 5. d4 Be7 6. Be2 c6 7. e4 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 Bg5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Smyslov Defense?
After 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing Nd7 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O h6. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 4. d3 (+0.56) and 4. e3 (+0.55).
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Smyslov Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: 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, Smyslov Defense?
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+).