Semi-open games

King's Pawn Game

1.e4

The King's Pawn Game starts with 1.e4 and is catalogued under ECO B00, in the semi-open games half of the book. The catalog indexes 38 lines inside it, grouped into 35 named variations, and the position after those moves has 19 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
King's Pawn Game
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.e4

    Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.

    Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

19 moves
e5King's Pawn Game917 named lines · Ruy Lopez · Center GameMeets White’s center directly and opens lines for Black’s queen and bishop.Idea: Fight for equal central space in a balanced, open position.c5Sicilian Defense337 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Open · Sicilian Defense: ClosedChallenges d4 from the flank instead of mirroring White’s e-pawn.Idea: Create an unbalanced center and active queenside counterplay.e6French Defense172 named lines · French Defense: Wing Gambit · Benoni Defense: French BenoniPrepares ...d5 to challenge White’s center with a supported pawn.Idea: Build a compact pawn chain, then attack its base with ...c5.c6Caro-Kann Defense92 named lines · Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line · Caro-Kann Defense: Euwe AttackPrepares ...d5 while keeping the light-squared bishop’s diagonal open.Idea: Challenge the center with a sound pawn structure and good endgame prospects.Nf6Alekhine Defense53 named lines · Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel · Alekhine Defense: Mokele MbembeDevelops with tempo by attacking the e4-pawn immediately.Idea: Invite White’s pawns forward, then undermine the space they gain.d5Scandinavian Defense45 named lines · Scandinavian Defense: Main Line · Scandinavian Defense: Kádas GambitAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.g6Modern Defense43 named lines · Modern Defense: Anti-Modern · Modern Defense: Wind GambitAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nc6Nimzowitsch Defense42 named lines · Van Geet Opening: Berlin Gambit · Nimzowitsch Defense: Hornung GambitDevelops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d6Pirc Defense39 named lines · Lion Defense · Czech DefenseAdvances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.b6Owen Defense7 named lines · Owen Defense: Wind Gambit · Owen Defense: Smith GambitAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a6St. George Defense4 named lines · St. George Defense: Polish Variation · St. George Defense: Zilbermints GambitAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g5Borg Defense4 named lines · Borg Defense: Borg Gambit · Borg Defense: Troon GambitAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.f6Barnes Defense3 named lines · Fried Fox Defense · Owen Defense: Unicorn VariationAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a5Ware Defense2 named lines · Ware Defense: Snagglepuss DefenseAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.h5Goldsmith Defense2 named lines · Goldsmith Defense: Picklepuss DefenseAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.h6Carr Defense2 named lines · Carr Defense: Zilbermints GambitAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.f5Duras Gambit1 named lineAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Na6Lemming Defense1 named lineDevelops the knight to a6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nh6Hippopotamus Defense1 named lineDevelops the knight to h6, 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 King's Pawn Game. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.

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

Openings from the same volume

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the King's Pawn Game.