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.

  2. 1…e5

    Meets White’s center directly and opens lines for Black’s queen and bishop.

    Idea: Fight for equal central space in a balanced, open position.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

19 moves
Nf3King's Knight Opening594 named lines · Ruy Lopez · Scotch GameDevelops the king’s knight and attacks Black’s e5-pawn.Idea: Increase central pressure while getting ready to castle.f4King's Gambit178 named lines · King's Gambit Accepted · King's Gambit Accepted: TumbleweedAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nc3Vienna Game57 named lines · Vienna Game: Fyfe Gambit · Vienna Game: Omaha GambitDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bc4Bishop's Opening37 named lines · Bishop's Opening: Khan Gambit · Bishop's Opening: Lewis GambitDevelops the bishop to c4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d4Center Game26 named lines · Danish Gambit · Center Game AcceptedAdvances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.d3King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation4 named lines · King's Pawn Game: Weber Gambit · King's Pawn Game: Clam Variation, Radisch GambitAdvances to d3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Bb5Portuguese Opening3 named lines · Portuguese Opening: Miguel Gambit · Portuguese Opening: Portuguese GambitDevelops the bishop to b5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c3King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack3 named lines · King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Lasa Gambit · King's Pawn Game: MacLeod Attack, Norwalde GambitAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Qh5King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack3 named lines · King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Mellon Gambit · King's Pawn Game: Wayward Queen Attack, Kiddie CountergambitRepositions the queen to h5, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.c4English Opening: The Whale2 named lines · King's Pawn Game: Bavarian GambitAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a3King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening1 named lineAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.b3King's Pawn Opening1 named lineAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bd3King's Pawn Game: Tortoise Opening1 named lineDevelops the bishop to d3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.f3King's Pawn Game: King's Head Opening1 named lineAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Ke2Bongcloud Attack1 named lineRepositions the king to e2, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Improve king safety or step toward a more useful endgame square.Ne2King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening1 named lineDevelops the knight to e2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Qe2King's Pawn Game1 named line · King's Pawn Opening: Van Hooydoon GambitRepositions the queen to e2, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.Qf3King's Pawn Game: Napoleon Attack1 named lineRepositions the queen to f3, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.Qg4King's Pawn Game1 named line · King's Pawn Opening: SpeersRepositions the queen to g4, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.

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.