Caissa Codex
A20

English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation

Chess diagram: English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation after 2…e4

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.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

133,692 games: White 49.8% / Draw 4.4% / Black 45.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
117,147117K
10,86011K
2,5142,514
1,3451,345
833833
268268
252252
180180

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 2, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 3. Nd4 Nc6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Ne5 6. d3 Bb4 7. dxe4 Nxe4

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, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation (ECO A20, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation, reached after 1. c4 e5 2. Nf3 e4 (2 moves).

In 133,692 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.8%, Black 45.9% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 3. Nd4, in 88% of those games.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

How to play against the English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation

The most played answer, 3. Nd4, also scores best for White: 53.1%, with White winning 50.9% and Black 44.6% of 117K games. Of the main answers, 3. Ng1 scores lowest: 48.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 3. Nd4.

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, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation (A20)”. Lichess data as of 2 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-nimzowitsch-flohr-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-kings-english-variation-nimzowitsch-flohr-variation