Chessy
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation — 3.cxd5
After 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5, the trade on d5 gives you exactly what you want: a clean, open position with a clear edge. You capture 3.cxd5, and now Black has to decide how to recapture. This is the tabiya of the King's Knight Variation, and the statistics confirm it's a happy place for White. Over 218,000 games have reached this position, and you win 56.8% of them. The engine gives +0.75 — a clear, lasting advantage in your favour. The drill below will test you against the most common replies so you can learn to convert this edge into a full point.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: d5 against the engine
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Create a free account →What the Engine Likes — and Why
Stockfish evaluates this position at +0.75, a firm advantage for White. That means you are clearly better here already. The reason is space and development: after 3.cxd5, White's pawn is gone from c4, but your pieces gain activity. The engine's top choice for Black is 3...c6, which leads to 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.d4 — a structure where White has a strong pawn centre and quick development. If Black avoids c6 and plays something looser, your advantage can grow even larger.
The Most-Played Reply: 3...Nxd5
By far the most common move in the database is 3...Nxd5, seen in 169,311 games. Black recaptures with the knight, heading for a symmetrical-ish structure. From here White scores 56.8% — identical to the overall average in the position. Your plan is straightforward: develop naturally with moves like d4, e4, Nc3, or Bg5, challenging Black's knight on d5. You have a lead in development and more central control. Don't rush; just keep improving your pieces and you'll maintain that +0.75 edge.
The Surprising Runner-Up: 3...Qxd5
The second-most popular reply is 3...Qxd5 with 35,373 games — and White actually scores even higher here at 57.2%. Black brings the queen out early, which can be a double-edged decision. You can gain time by chasing the queen with Nc3, forcing it to move again. Black often follows with ...Qd8 or ...Qd6, losing a tempo. You should castle quickly and aim for a small but lasting advantage. This line is actually slightly better for you statistically than the knight recapture, so don't be afraid of it.
Mistakes to Punish
Two bishop sorties are known inaccuracies in this position. 3...Bg4 loses about 0.7 pawns of advantage (the engine says Black should have played 3...c6 instead). Similarly, 3...Bf5 is an inaccuracy costing about 0.5 pawns. Both moves look natural — developing a bishop — but they ignore the central tension. If your opponent plays either, you have a chance to increase your lead. In both cases, a simple response like 4.d4 or 4.Nc3 (threatening the bishop with e4) can give you an even bigger edge.
Results across 218,211 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd5 | 169,311 | 56.8% |
| Qxd5 | 35,373 | 57.2% |
| c6 | 3,461 | 52.7% |
| e6 | 3,277 | 57.4% |
| Bg4 | 2,729 | 54.3% |
| Bf5 | 1,894 | 56.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Why is 3.cxd5 a good move for White?
3.cxd5 opens the c-file for your rook and removes Black's d5 pawn, reducing their central presence. The resulting position gives White a clear development advantage and a lasting edge of +0.75 according to Stockfish. White wins 56.8% of games from here.
Should I worry about Black playing 3...c6?
Not at all — it's the engine's top move for Black, but White still holds the advantage. After 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.d4, you have a strong pawn centre and easy development. White wins 52.7% of games in this line, so you're still the favourite.
How should I play against 3...Qxd5?
Develop quickly with Nc3, chasing the queen. Black often retreats to d8 or d6, losing time. Then play d4, e4, or Bg5 to control the centre and keep the initiative. White scores 57.2% in this line — your best winning percentage of all the main replies.
What are the most common mistakes Black makes here?
The two biggest inaccuracies are 3...Bg4 and 3...Bf5. Both lose about 0.5 to 0.7 pawns of advantage compared to the best move 3...c6. You can punish them by pushing d4 or playing Nc3 with the threat of e4.