Flank openings

English Opening

1.c4

The English Opening starts with 1.c4 and is catalogued under ECO A10, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 175 lines inside it, grouped into 127 named variations, and the position after those moves has 6 playable continuations to walk from here.

Opening repertoire map

Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.

Current position
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System
6 plies
King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
6 plies
King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.c4

    Controls d5 from the flank without occupying the center immediately.

    Idea: Pressure the center from the side and keep the pawn structure flexible.

  2. 1e5

    Advances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  3. 2.Nc3

    Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  4. 2Nf6

    Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  5. 3.g3

    Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

6 moves
Bb4English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System3 named lines · English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian · English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, Delayed .. Nc6Develops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bc5English Opening: Carls-Bremen System1 named line · English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres VariationDevelops the bishop to c5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c6English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation1 named lineAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.d5English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon1 named lineAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.g6English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nc6English Opening: Carls-Bremen System1 named line · English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, Be7Develops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

Named variations

Each line below is an indexed entry under English Opening. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.

103 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the English Opening.