Caissa Codex
A29

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

Chess diagram: English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, Delayed .. Nc6 after 7…Nc6

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Statistics from Lichess

1,147 games: White 34.5% / Draw 8.3% / Black 57.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.16 The position is about equal

Best play: 8. Nc2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 d5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Ne3 Qh5 12. d4 Bh3

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, Delayed .. Nc6 (ECO A29, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System, reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 Re8 6. O-O e4 7. Nd4 Nc6 (7 moves).

In 1,147 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 34.5%, Black 57.2% and 8.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Nc2, in 70% of those games.

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How to play against the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, Delayed .. Nc6

The most played answer, 8. Nc2, also scores best for White: 41.8%, with White winning 37.1% and Black 53.5% of 806 games. Of the main answers, 8. Nxc6 scores lowest: 30.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. Nc2.

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, Delayed .. Nc6 (A29)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-delayed-nc6

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-four-knights-variation-fianchetto-line-delayed-nc6