Caissa Codex
A29

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line 7. O-O O-O

Chess diagram: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line after 7…O-O

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

11,000 games: White 48.2% / Draw 6.8% / Black 45.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
7,4237,423
1,9061,906
617617
334334
284284
154154
124124
3333

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.04 The position is about equal

Best play: 8. Nc3 Be6 9. Bd2 h6 10. Rc1 a5 11. a3 Re8 12. Nxd5 Bxd5

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, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, reached after 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 Be7 7. O-O O-O (7 moves).

In 11,000 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.2%, Black 45.0% and 6.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Nc3, in 67% of those games.

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How to answer 7…O-O

8. Nbd2 scores best for White: 52.6%, with White winning 49.6% and Black 44.4% of 617 games. The most played answer, 8. Nc3, scores lowest: 51.9% in 7,423 games. Stockfish's first choice is 8. Nc3.

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

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line (A29)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-4

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-4