Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack

The Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack is 2...Bb4, pinning the c3 knight before Black develops any knight. Black aims to trade bishop for knight and double White's c-pawns, while White can avoid that with 3.Nd5 and gain the bishop pair.

Moves
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4
ECO
A21
Engine
+0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,516 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.Nd5 attacks the bishop. After ...Be7 4.d4, White opens the center and can win the bishop pair with Nxe7.
  • 3.g3 allows ...Bxc3; recapture with the b-pawn and use the bishop on g2.
  • 3.e4 and Nge2 let White recapture on c3 with the knight, avoiding doubled pawns.
  • With the bishop pair, open the position with d4.

Black

  • ...Bxc3 doubles White's pawns. Then ...d6, ...Nc6 and ...f5 give a dark-square setup.
  • Against 3.Nd5, ...Be7 keeps the bishop, as in the top engine line.
  • After ...Bxc3 and bxc3, ...f5 adds kingside space.
  • ...Nf6 and short castling are standard after the exchange.

Plans and pawn structure

After ...Bxc3 and bxc3, White has doubled pawns and the bishop pair, while Black has a solid center with ...d6, ...e5 and ...f5. White aims for d4 and open lines; Black wants a closed position. After 3.Nd5, White gains the bishop pair and an open center. The fight is about whether the position opens.

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 3.Nd5 Be7 4.d4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Nf6
  2. +0.14 3.g3 Bxc3 4.bxc3 d6 5.Bg2 Nc6
  3. +0.10 3.e4 d6 4.Nge2 Nc6 5.d4 exd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,516 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.5%.

under 120048.6%
1200–159952.7%
1600–199954.0%
2000 and up50.8%

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

How to play against it

As White, 3.Nd5 is the engine's choice. Avoid 3.g3 if you dislike doubled pawns. As Black, trade on c3 when you can and keep the center closed with ...d6 and ...f5.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack starts 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4. Its ECO code is A21.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,516 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.5%. A solid choice for Black players who like closed positions, but White's 3.Nd5 is a good answer.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack?

Black pins the c3 knight early and aims to double White's pawns with ...Bxc3. White can avoid it with 3.Nd5 or accept it for the bishop pair.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nd5, with g3 and e4 close behind. 3.Nd5 hits the bishop and avoids doubled pawns.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.