The King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System is a variation of the English Opening, catalogued as ECO A10. The line runs 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d3 a6, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the English Opening generally: A flexible opening where White controls the center with c4. Can transpose into many different systems.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 69 English Opening variations →
The King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System goes 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d3 a6. It is a variation of the English Opening and is catalogued as ECO A10.
The King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System is ECO A10. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the English Opening.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d3 a6 at +0.31 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.