ECO A19 · English Opening

English Opening: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 c5

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

4. e5+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian (A19), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.394. e5 Ng8 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 d6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qe4 dxe5
  2. +0.344. Nf3 Nc6 5. Be2 d5 6. exd5 exd5 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 dxc4
  3. +0.104. f4 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bf5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e5 for White, continuing Ng8 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 d6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qe4 dxe5. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+0.34) and 4. f4 (+0.10).
Is the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian?
A19. 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+).