The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line is a variation of the English Opening, catalogued as ECO A28. The line runs 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Nd5 Re8 7. Qf5, reaching the position shown below after 13 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on e5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move after seven moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
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, Quiet Line goes 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Nd5 Re8 7. Qf5. It is a variation of the English Opening and is catalogued as ECO A28.
The King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line 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. e3 Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Nd5 Re8 7. Qf5 at -0.09 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 two minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.