Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: The Whale

The Whale is 1.e4 e5 2.c4, an English-style c-pawn pushed inside an open game. White clamps d5 but leaves a permanent hole on d4, and Black answers with natural development, ...Nc6 and ...Bc5, aimed at that hole and at f2.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.c4
ECO
C20
Engine
−0.35 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,493 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop Nf3, d3 and Be3, so the dark-squared bishop can challenge a black bishop on c5 and cover d4.
  • Use the c4 and e4 pawns to fix a grip on d5, then bring a knight to c3 and later to d5.
  • Castle early with Be2 and O-O; until then f2 is the soft spot facing a bishop on c5.

Black

  • Play ...Nc6, ...Bc5 and ...Nf6, pointing every minor piece at the d4 square and at f2.
  • Look for ...Nd4 at the right moment, since no white c-pawn can ever kick a knight from there.
  • Keep the center fixed with ...d6, then consider the ...f5 break once the kingside pieces are out.

Plans and pawn structure

White's pawns on c4 and e4 control d5 but can never again guard d4, so that square is Black's for the whole game. Black plants a knight there when it cannot be traded off cheaply, and keeps the c5 bishop active against f2. White answers with Be3 to trade that bishop and with Nc3 and a knight jump to d5. The game is usually a slow maneuvering battle around the two holes, d4 and d5.

Where the engine's main line heads: Open game: e4 against e5. An open game: e4 against e5. Development, the f7 and f2 squares, and the d4 or d5 break are what count.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.35: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.35 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.Be3
  2. −0.32 2...Bc5 3.d3 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Be3
  3. −0.26 2...Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Be2 d6 5.Nc3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,493 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.5%.

under 120047.4%
1200–159952.0%
1600–199954.3%
2000 and up51.3%

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

Where it goes next

  • Bavarian Gambit2...d5 · rare

How to play against it

For Black: develop simply with ...Nc6, ...Bc5, ...Nf6 and ...d6, and aim pieces at d4. Don't rush pawn breaks; the hole on d4 is a long-term asset that will not go away. If White plays Be3 to trade your bishop, consider keeping it with a retreat to b6.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: The Whale?

The English Opening: The Whale starts 1.e4 e5 2.c4. Its ECO code is C20.

Is the English Opening: The Whale good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.35 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 4,493 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.5%. An offbeat surprise for White that gives Black an easy game when Black develops naturally and targets d4.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: The Whale?

White plays c4 to clamp d5, at the cost of a permanent hole on d4. Black aims knights and the c5 bishop at that square and gets a comfortable game.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with Bc5 and Nf6 close behind. ...Nc6 develops toward d4 and supports the coming ...Bc5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.