King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening 3…Nf6 4. d4
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Statistics from Lichess
7,207 games: White 47.7% / Draw 4.7% / Black 47.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,8804,880 | ||
| 1,2531,253 | ||
| 530530 | ||
| 176176 | ||
| 115115 | ||
| 8484 | ||
| 6666 | ||
| 3737 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.40 Black is slightly better
Best play: 4... exd4 5. e5 Ng4 6. O-O Be7 7. Bf4 d6 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. Bg5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening (ECO C44, Open Games) is a variation of the King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Be2 Nf6 4. d4 (4 moves).
In 7,207 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.7%, Black 47.6% and 4.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…exd4, in 68% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening, Basman Gambit.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 4. d4
The most played answer, 4…exd4, also scores best for Black: 51.2%, with Black winning 48.9% and White 46.5% of 4,880 games. Of the main answers, 4…d6 scores lowest: 47.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 4…exd4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening (C44)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-pawn-game-tayler-opening-2