Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

English Opening: King's English Variation

The King's English Variation is 1...e5, answering the English with a reversed Sicilian. White plays a Sicilian with colors switched and an extra move, aiming at d5, while Black grabs central space and plans ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and often ...d5 or ...Bb4.

Moves
1.c4 e5
ECO
A20, A21
Engine
+0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
37,827 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 2.g3 and Bg2 put the bishop on the long diagonal toward d5 and b7, the engine's first choice.
  • 2.Nc3 fights for d5 and is the most common move in our sample.
  • 2.a3 prepares b4 to grab queenside space, a reversed Najdorf idea.
  • Use the extra tempo for quiet development; there is no need to force matters early.

Black

  • ...Nf6 and ...Nc6 develop and guard e5. They lead to Four Knights lines.
  • ...c6 and ...d5 build a broad center, as in the top engine line after 2.g3.
  • ...e4 can gain space and chase a knight from f3, then ...Qb6 hits the d4 knight and b2.
  • ...Bb4 pins or trades the c3 knight and weakens White's control of d5.

Plans and pawn structure

White plays a Sicilian a tempo up, aiming for control of d5 with Nc3, g3 and Bg2, and for queenside expansion with a3, b4 and Rb1. Black builds a classical center with ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and ...d6 or ...d5, and often aims for kingside play with ...f5 or ...e4. The fight over d5 decides many games: if Black gets ...d5 in safely, Black is fine.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.16: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.16 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.Nf3 e4
  2. +0.14 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5
  3. +0.01 2.a3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Nc3 d5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

37,827 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.5%.

under 120053.5%
1200–159952.9%
1600–199954.3%
2000 and up52.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, do not play passively; ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and ...Bb4 or ...d5 are the active setups. As White, use the long diagonal and the d5 square, and keep the queenside expansion in mind.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nf3.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: King's English Variation?

The English Opening: King's English Variation starts 1.c4 e5. Its ECO code is A20, A21.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 37,827 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.5%. A natural, classical choice for Black players who like open games with ...e5, with many structures to learn.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: King's English Variation?

Black plays a Sicilian with colors reversed, with White a tempo up. The fight centers on d5: White controls it with Nc3, g3 and Bg2, and Black aims for ...d5 or ...Bb4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is g3, with Nc3 and a3 close behind. 2.g3 prepares Bg2, aiming the bishop at d5 and the queenside.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.