Tree path 3 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Mikenas Defense › Cannstatter Variation
  1. Chess Codex
  2. Queen's Pawn Game A40
  3. Mikenas Defense A40
  4. Cannstatter Variation A40 you are here
A40

Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation

Open in Lichess
Share: X Reddit Telegram Facebook
Play from here → Click pieces to play, or use ← / → arrows.

Overview

Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation is a variation within the Flank Openings family, indexed as ECO A40.

The Flank Openings group covers flank openings — systems that delay the central pawn break and instead develop pieces and pawns on the wings.

The line arises from 6 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nd4.

It is a variation of Mikenas Defense, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.

Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.

ECO code
A40
Group
Flank Openings (A)
Plies
6
Parent
Mikenas Defense

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

40,554 games · White 55.3% / Draw 3.3% / Black 41.4%

MovesGamesW / D / B
e325,486
Nc36,386
e43,155
Nf32,543
Be3914
a3658
f4491
g4313

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:15:47

Write a description

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