The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6 is a variation of the English Opening, catalogued as ECO A29. The line runs 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after six moves.
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, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6 goes 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6. It is a variation of the English Opening and is catalogued as ECO A29.
The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6 is ECO A29. 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. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 at +0.15 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.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move.