Caissa Codex
A29

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line 5. Nf3 Nc6

Chess diagram: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line after 5…Nc6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

100,557 games: White 53.1% / Draw 6.7% / Black 40.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
66,08566K
17,18117K
11,47511K
1,5601,560
1,2481,248
1,0531,053
741741
619619

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

Engine evaluation

+0.17 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. O-O Nb6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2 f6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc1 Bg4

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, Fianchetto Line (ECO A29, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: King's English Variation, reached after 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 (5 moves).

In 100,557 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.1%, Black 40.2% and 6.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. O-O, in 66% of those games.

It continues into one named variation. In all, 2 named lines continue from it.

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How to answer 5…Nc6

The most played answer, 6. O-O, also scores best for White: 57.7%, with White winning 54.1% and Black 38.6% of 66K games. Of the main answers, 6. d3 scores lowest: 54.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. O-O.

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

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6, the position after English Opening: King's English Variation also goes on to:

All 2 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line (A29)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-2