ECO A18 · English Opening

English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4

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

3… d5+0.25

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation (A18), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.253… d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. fxg7 cxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Bxg7 8. Qb3
  2. +0.373… c5 4. e5 Ng8 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Ndb5
  3. +0.383… e5 4. Nge2 Nc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bb4 7. f3 O-O 8. Be3

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 Nc6
  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. e5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. fxg7 cxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Bxg7 8. Qb3. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 3… c5 (+0.37) and 3… e5 (+0.38).
Is the English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: 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: Mikenas-Carls Variation?
A18. 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+).