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 6 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.

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. 1e6

    Prepares ...d5 to challenge White’s center with a supported pawn.

    Idea: Build a compact pawn chain, then attack its base with ...c5.

  3. 2.d4

    Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  4. 2d5

    Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  5. 3.Nc3

    Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  6. 3Bb4

    Develops the bishop to b4, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

6 moves
e5French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation20 named lines · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn VariationAdvances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Ne2French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit5 named lines · French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit AcceptedDevelops the knight to e2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bd2French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation4 named lines · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Schwarz's LineDevelops the bishop to d2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.exd5French Defense: Winawer Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation2 named lines · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Exchange Variation, Canal AttackCaptures the pawn on d5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.Idea: Open lines in the center and reshape the center for the next phase.a3French Defense: Winawer Variation1 named line · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer GambitAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bd3French Defense: Winawer Variation1 named line · French Defense: Winawer Variation, Kondratiyev VariationDevelops the bishop to d3, 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.

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