Caissa Codex
A28

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Bradley Beach Variation

Chess diagram: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Bradley Beach Variation after 4…e4

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Statistics from Lichess

49,863 games: White 52.0% / Draw 4.1% / Black 43.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
31,17031K
9,3489,348
6,2896,289
2,0452,045
927927
3232
2121
1212

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 5. Nd2 Bb4 6. e3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 d6 8. h3 Qe7 9. c5 dxc5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Bradley Beach Variation (ECO A28, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 e4 (4 moves).

In 49,863 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.0%, Black 43.9% and 4.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Ng5, in 63% of those games.

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How to play against the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Bradley Beach Variation

5. Nd2 scores best for White: 54.9%, with White winning 52.8% and Black 43.0% of 9,348 games. The most played answer, 5. Ng5, scores lowest: 53.9% in 31K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Nd2.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. d4 e4, the position after English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Bradley Beach Variation (A28)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-bradley-beach-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-bradley-beach-variation