English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 · ECO A28
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English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation position after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. White: pawn on c4, knight on c3, knight on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on d2, pawn on e2, pawn on f2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, knight on c6, knight on f6, pawn on e5.
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. It is classified A28 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The English Opening starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the flank rather than occupying the centre with a pawn. It is one of the four most common first moves and is prized for its flexibility, transposing readily into queen's pawn openings or keeping an independent character.
This position can also be reached by another move order, including 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5.
Strategic character
Strategic and slow-building. Common structures include the Reversed Sicilian, where White plays the Sicilian with an extra tempo, and the Symmetrical English after 1...c5. Fianchettos and long manoeuvring are typical.
Who should play it
Positional players who like flexible systems and are comfortable in structures where the plan is not decided in the first ten moves.
This line is a variation within the English Opening family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6.
Variations continuing from this position
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. Open any of them to load the position on the board.
What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?
The English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. It is classified A28 in the ECO system. The English Opening starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the flank rather than occupying the centre with a pawn. It is one of the four most common first moves and is prized for its flexibility, transposing readily into queen's pawn openings or keeping an independent character.
What are the moves of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation good for beginners?
Positional players who like flexible systems and are comfortable in structures where the plan is not decided in the first ten moves.
What variations come from the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?
Named continuations include English Opening: Four Knights System, Nimzowitsch Variation, English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Flexible Line, English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Korchnoi Line, English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line. There are 11 named variations reachable from this position in total.