Opening name: English Opening
Opening line: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page
Winning percentages
White: 11156 (37.66%)
Black: 6276 (21.19%)
Draws: 12192 (41.16%)
English Opening
2. Nc3
White reinforces the attack on the d5 square and keeps his options open. Black has a variety of answers here, aiming for a King's Indian setup with 2...g6 is an interesting option, 2...e6 is also possible although white can choose to disrupt black's plan of reaching a Nimzo-Indian or QID setup by playing 3. e4 leading to the very sharp and tactical variations known collectively as the Mikenas Carls variation, which black is best advised to avoid if not prepared to face them.
2...e5 is also possible leading to the English four knights and the Bremen system
Most popular responses
2...e5 (English Opening) This position, also reachable through the move orders 1...e5/2.Nc3 Nf6, can lead to two important variations of the English opening depending on how white chooses to develop. 3.Nf3 is the natural developing move and more often than not it leads to the English four knights variation simply because black must defend his pawn and the most practical way to do it is with 3...Nc6. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (13708152 games)
2...g6 (English Opening) Black signals his intention to reach a KID setup. White can choose to seize central space and transpose into a standard KID by playing 3. d4 or to stay in the English opening by playing 3. g3. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (6688104 games)
2...e6 (English Opening) A flexible second move by black reaching a Nimzo-Indian or Queen`s Indian defence setup is a possibility for black with good prospects as pinning the white knight at c3 weakens white´s grip over the d5 square and threatens doubled pawns, not to mention that since white has not yet moved his d-pawn black might as well get a lead in development. Black should be careful about this move however as white has the option of playing 3.e4 a move that leads to the ultra sharp Mikenas Carls variation where black will require very accurate play in order to stay alive. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (6524871 games)
2...c5 (English, Symmetrical) Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (2540124 games)
Engine Evaluation
Depth: 46
Score: +0.08
Best Move: e5
PV Line: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e4 Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Bc5 7. b4
Historical games for English Opening
| Game | Result | Year |
| Carlsen, M. (2882) vs Ding Liren (2805) | 1-0 | 2019 |
| Carlsen, M. (2872) vs Aronian, L. (2812) | 1/2-1/2 | 2014 |
| Carlsen, M. (2882) vs Giri, A. (2779) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Carlsen, M.. (2847) vs Ding Liren (2799) | 1-0 | 2021 |
| Carlsen, M. (2870) vs Aronian, L. (2772) | 1-0 | 2019 |
| Carlsen, M. (2872) vs Giri, A. (2768) | 1/2-1/2 | 2020 |
| Carlsen, M. (2865) vs Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) | 1/2-1/2 | 2022 |
| Carlsen, M. (2855) vs Aronian, L. (2782) | 1/2-1/2 | 2021 |
| Carlsen, M. (2864) vs Giri, A. (2773) | 1-0 | 2022 |
| Carlsen, M. (2843) vs Aronian, L. (2794) | 1/2-1/2 | 2018 |