Current position
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System
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 1 playable continuation to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Controls d5 from the flank without occupying the center immediately.
Idea: Pressure the center from the side and keep the pawn structure flexible.
Advances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Develops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Develops the bishop to g2, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Tucks the king away and activates the rook in a single move.
Idea: Finish kingside development so the central pieces can coordinate safely.
Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Repositions the rook to e8, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
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.