English Opening
Stockfish 16.1 · runs in your browser1.c4 · For White · ECO A10 to C20
The example line for English Opening is 1. c4. Explore 176 saved positions and compare up to three engine continuations per position. The saved Stockfish 16 analysis reaches depth 16, with scores in pawns from White's perspective. Step through the opening on the board and try a continuation to explore the resulting position.
By Chessvia · Updated Oct 18, 2026
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English Opening
1.c4
Black’s choices
- 1...f5 · Anglo-Dutch Defense
- 1...Nc6 · Anglo-Lithuanian Variation
- 1...d5 · Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
- 1...g6 · Great Snake Variation
- 1...b5 · Jaenisch Gambit
- 1...g5 · Myers Defense
- 1...c6 · Caro-Kann Defensive System
- 1...e6 · Agincourt Defense
- 1...Nf6 · Anglo-Indian Defense
- 1...e5 · King's English Variation
- 1...c5 · Symmetrical Variation
- 1...e5 2.c4 · The Whale
Stockfish 16 · depth 16 · + favours White
Level +0.20
Engine lines
Anglo-Dutch Defense: 1...f5
White slightly better +0.57
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickmann Gambit | 2.e4 | Level +0.10 | Play |
| Anglo-Dutch Variation, Chabanon Gambit | 2.Nf3 d6 3.e4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Anglo-Dutch Variation, Ferenc Gambit | 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.e4 | Level -0.10 | Play |
| Porcupine Variation | 3...fxe4 4.g4 | Black slightly better -0.47 | Play |
| Wade Gambit | 2.g4 | Level -0.24 | Play |
Anglo-Lithuanian Variation: 1...Nc6
White slightly better +0.50
Play this lineAnglo-Scandinavian Defense: 1...d5
White slightly better +0.75
Play this lineGreat Snake Variation: 1...g6
White slightly better +0.38
Play this lineJaenisch Gambit: 1...b5
White slightly better +0.86
Play this lineMyers Defense: 1...g5
White clearly better +1.16
Play this lineCaro-Kann Defensive System: 1...c6
White slightly better +0.40
Play this lineAgincourt Defense: 1...e6
White slightly better +0.30
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| After 2.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play | |
| After 2...d5 | Level +0.26 | Play | |
| After 5...O-O | 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.e3 O-O | Level +0.12 | Play |
| After 6.d4 | Level +0.07 | Play | |
| Catalan Defense | 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Catalan Defense | 3.g3 c5 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Kurajica Defense | 3.g3 c6 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| Neo-Catalan | 3.g3 Nf6 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play |
| Agincourt Defense, Bogoljubow Defense | 4.Bg2 Bd6 | White slightly better +0.47 | Play |
| Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense Accepted | 4.Bg2 dxc4 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense, Semi-Slav Defense | 4.Bg2 c6 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Agincourt Defense, Tarrasch Defense | 4.Bg2 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.O-O Be7 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Neo-Catalan Declined | 4.Bg2 Be7 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined | 5.O-O | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Keres Defense | 5...c5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nc3 Nc6 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| After 6.b3 | 5...O-O 6.b3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| After 6...c5 | Level +0.27 | Play | |
| After 7.e3 | Level -0.07 | Play | |
| After 7...d4 | Level +0.05 | Play | |
| After 7...Nc6 | Level 0.00 | Play | |
| Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3 | 5.b3 | Level +0.20 | Play |
| After 5...b6 | Level +0.21 | Play | |
| After 5...c5 | Level +0.17 | Play | |
| Wimpy System | 2...Nf6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 c5 5.e3 | Level +0.05 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation | 2...Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 | White slightly better +0.48 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Romanishin Variation | 2...Nf6 3.g3 a6 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| Romanishin Gambit | 4.Bg2 b5 | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Hedgehog Defense | 2...Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7 | White slightly better +0.40 | Play |
| Hedgehog, Flexible Formation | 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.b3 Nbd7 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation | 2...Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.d4 Nc6 5.g3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qb6 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Spielmann Defense | 2...Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 | Level +0.23 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Spielmann Defense | 2.d4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 | Level +0.25 | Play |
Anglo-Indian Defense: 1...Nf6
Level +0.27
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achilles-Omega Gambit | 2.e4 | Black slightly better -0.97 | Play |
| King's Knight Variation | 2.Nf3 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| King's Indian Formation | 2...g6 | White slightly better +0.54 | Play |
| Grünfeld Formation | 3.g3 d5 | White slightly better +0.47 | Play |
| Double Fianchetto | 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 | White slightly better +0.71 | Play |
| Slav Formation | 3.g3 c6 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Duchamp Variation | 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O c5 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d3 | Level +0.05 | Play |
| Old Indian Formation | 2...d6 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play |
| Queen's Indian Formation | 2...b6 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Scandinavian Defense | 2...d5 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| Exchange Variation | 3.cxd5 Nxd5 | White slightly better +0.85 | Play |
| Queen's Knight Variation | 2.Nc3 | Level -0.01 | Play |
| Anti-Anti-Grünfeld | 2...g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e4 | White slightly better +0.54 | Play |
| Anglo-Grünfeld Defense | 2...d5 | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation | 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| After 4...g6 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play | |
| Anglo-Grünfeld Defense, Korchnoi Variation | 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 e5 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| After 5...e6 | 4...c5 5.e3 e6 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation | 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Nb6 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Anglo-Grünfeld Variation | 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Nxc3 | White slightly better +0.46 | Play |
| Hedgehog System | 2...e6 | White slightly better +0.38 | Play |
| Nimzo-English | 3.Nf3 Bb4 | Level +0.27 | Play |
| Zvjaginsev-Krasenkow Attack | 4.g4 | Level +0.10 | Play |
| Queen's Indian Formation | 3.Nf3 b6 | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Queen's Indian Variation | 4.e4 Bb7 5.Bd3 | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| Mikenas-Carls Variation | 3.e4 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| After 3...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.79 | Play | |
| After 4.e5 | 3...d5 4.e5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| Sicilian | 3...c5 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| Anglo-Indian Defense, Flohr-Mikenas-Carls Variation, Nei Gambit | 4.e5 Ng8 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Fianchetto Variation | 2...c5 3.g3 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Rubinstein Variation | 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nc7 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation | 2.d4 c5 3.Nf3 | Level +0.17 | Play |
| Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit | 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d5 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
King's English Variation: 1...e5
Level +0.21
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Variation | 2.g3 h5 | White slightly better +0.48 | Play |
| Kahiko-Hula Gambit | 2.e3 Nf6 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 | Black clearly better -1.20 | Play |
| Nimzowitsch Variation | 2.Nf3 | Level -0.01 | Play |
| Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation | 2...e4 | Level -0.04 | Play |
| Reversed Sicilian | 2.Nc3 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| After 3.Nf3 | 2...d6 3.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| Smyslov Defense | 3...Bg4 | White slightly better +0.75 | Play |
| Keres Defense | 2...d6 3.g3 c6 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack | 2...Bb4 | Level +0.27 | Play |
| Two Knights Variation | 2...Nf6 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Carls-Bremen System | 3.g3 | Level +0.15 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon | 3...d5 | Level +0.16 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System | 3...Bb4 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Reversed Closed Sicilian | 4.e4 O-O 5.Nge2 Nc6 6.Bg2 | Level +0.19 | Play |
| Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, Delayed .. Nc6 | 4.Bg2 O-O 5.Nf3 Re8 6.O-O e4 7.Nd4 Nc6 | Level -0.06 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation | 3...c6 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation | 3...Bc5 4.Bg2 c6 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line | 3...g6 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, Be7 | 3...Nc6 4.Bg2 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.Nf3 O-O | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Adhiban Gambit | 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 c6 | White slightly better +0.54 | Play |
| Bellon Gambit | 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 b5 | White slightly better +0.67 | Play |
| Erbenheimer Gambit | 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 Ng4 | White clearly better +2.05 | Play |
| Mazedonisch | 3.f4 | Black slightly better -0.38 | Play |
| Four Knights Variation | 3.Nf3 Nc6 | Level +0.06 | Play |
| Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation | 4.e4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| After 8...Ne5 | 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| Bradley Beach Variation | 4.d4 e4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Flexible Line | 4.d3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Korchnoi Line | 4.a3 | Level +0.09 | Play |
| Quiet Line | 4.e3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| After 5...Bxc3 | 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 | Level +0.19 | Play |
| After 7.Qf5 | 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 O-O 6.Nd5 Re8 7.Qf5 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Fianchetto Line | 4.g3 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| After 4...Bb4 | Level +0.13 | Play | |
| After 7...O-O | 5.Bg2 Bxc3 6.dxc3 d6 7.O-O O-O | Level -0.09 | Play |
| With .. d6 | 4...Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| After 7.O-O | 6...O-O 7.O-O | Level +0.18 | Play |
| a6 | 6...a6 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| h6 | 6...h6 | Level +0.26 | Play |
| With Bc5 | 4...d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Bc5 | Level +0.11 | Play |
| With Nb6 | 4...d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| Reversed Closed Sicilian | 2...Nc6 | Level +0.26 | Play |
| Troger Defense | 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 Be6 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Closed, Taimanov Variation | 3.g3 g6 4.Rb1 Nh6 5.Bg2 Bg7 | White slightly better +0.64 | Play |
| Taimanov Variation | 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| Closed, Taimanov Variation | 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 Nh6 | White slightly better +0.61 | Play |
| Bremen-Hort Variation | 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2 Be6 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Closed System | 5.d3 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Full Symmetry | 5...d6 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Botvinnik System | 6.e4 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| Hungarian Attack | 5.Rb1 | Level +0.16 | Play |
| Three Knights System | 3.Nf3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Reversed Closed Sicilian | 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nd5 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Reversed Closed Sicilian | 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| After 6...Bg4 | Level +0.05 | Play | |
| Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line | 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| After 6.d3 | Level -0.07 | Play | |
| After 7...O-O | 6...Be7 7.O-O O-O | Level -0.02 | Play |
Symmetrical Variation: 1...c5
White slightly better +0.32
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| After 2.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play | |
| Napolitano Gambit | 2...Nf6 3.b4 | Black slightly better -0.92 | Play |
| Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation | 2...Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.O-O d6 6.Nc3 | Level +0.17 | Play |
| Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation | 2...Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.O-O e6 6.Nc3 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Wing Gambit | 2.b4 | Black slightly better -0.90 | Play |
| Normal Variation | 2.Nc3 | Level +0.15 | Play |
| Three Knights Variation | 2...Nf6 3.Nf3 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| Rubinstein Variation | 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nc7 | Level +0.03 | Play |
| After 3...e5 | White clearly better +1.49 | Play | |
| Four Knights Variation | 3...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| After 5...cxd4 | 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Keres-Parma System | 4.g3 e6 | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Full Symmetry Line | 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 | White slightly better +0.40 | Play |
| Double Fianchetto | 6.O-O O-O 7.b3 | Level -0.23 | Play |
| Mecking Variation | 6.O-O O-O 7.d4 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
| Two Knights Variation | 2...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
| Fianchetto Variation | 3.g3 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| Botvinnik System | 2.e4 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 | Level -0.16 | Play |
| Ultra-Symmetrical Variation | 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 | Level +0.17 | Play |
| Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3 | 5.e3 e5 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation | 5.Nf3 | Level +0.06 | Play |
| Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3 | 5...e5 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| After 6...d6 | 6.O-O d6 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| After 6...Nge7 | 6.O-O Nge7 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| After 7.a3 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play | |
| After 7.d3 | Level +0.24 | Play | |
| After 7...d6 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
The Whale: 1...e5 2.c4
Black slightly better -0.48
Play this line