The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation is a variation of the English Opening, catalogued as ECO A28. The line runs 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Ne5, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.
On the English Opening generally: A flexible opening where White controls the center with c4. Can transpose into many different systems.
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The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation goes 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Ne5. It is a variation of the English Opening and is catalogued as ECO A28.
The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation is ECO A28. 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 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Ne5 at +0.19 at depth 18, which is balanced. 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.
The four central squares are empty of pawns, so the fight for them is being conducted by pieces. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s c- and a-files pawns are isolated; White has the bishop pair.