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 11 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 Knight Opening: Normal 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…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.

  3. 2.Nf3

    Develops the king’s knight and attacks Black’s e5-pawn.

    Idea: Increase central pressure while getting ready to castle.

  4. 2…Nc6

    Defends e5 while developing the queen’s knight toward the center.

    Idea: Hold the central pawn and keep several classical setups available.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

11 moves
Bb5Ruy Lopez200 named lines · Ruy Lopez: Open · Ruy Lopez: ClosedDevelops the bishop and pressures the knight that helps defend e5.Idea: Create long-term pressure on Black’s center before deciding whether to exchange.Bc4Italian Game153 named lines · Italian Game: Deutz Gambit · Italian Game: Evans GambitDevelops the bishop onto an active diagonal aimed at f7.Idea: Accelerate kingside development and make Black’s weakest early square a target.d4Scotch Game54 named lines · Scotch Game: Haxo Gambit · Scotch Game: Göring GambitAdvances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nc3Three Knights Opening40 named lines · Four Knights Game · Four Knights Game: Glek SystemDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c3Ponziani Opening13 named lines · Ponziani Opening: Caro Gambit · Ponziani Opening: Neumann GambitAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Be2King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening3 named lines · King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening, Basman Gambit · King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening, Inverted HanhamDevelops the bishop to e2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c4King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening2 named lines · Dresden Opening: The GoblinAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nxe5Irish Gambit2 named lines · King's Pawn Game: Schulze-Müller GambitCaptures the pawn on e5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.b4King's Pawn Game: Pachman Wing Gambit1 named lineAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.d3King's Knight Opening: Normal Variation1 named line · Latvian Gambit: Clam GambitAdvances to d3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.g3King's Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

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.