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 4 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
Alekhine Defense
3 plies
Maróczy Variation
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.

  2. 1…Nf6

    Develops with tempo by attacking the e4-pawn immediately.

    Idea: Invite White’s pawns forward, then undermine the space they gain.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

4 moves
e5Alekhine Defense46 named lines · Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel · Alekhine Defense: Mokele MbembeAdvances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nc3Alekhine Defense4 named lines · Alekhine Defense: Spielmann Gambit · Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian VariationDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bc4Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation2 named lines · Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik GambitDevelops the bishop to c4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d3Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation1 named lineAdvances to d3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

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.