English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6 position after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 a6. White: pawn on c4, knight on c3, pawn on d3, knight on f3, pawn on g3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on e2, pawn on f2, bishop on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, rook on h8, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on a6, knight on c6, pawn on d6, knight on f6, bishop on c5, pawn on e5.
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6 is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 a6. It is classified A29 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.
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 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 a6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6?
The English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6 is a chess opening that arises after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 a6. It is classified A29 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, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6?
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 a6. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, a6 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.