Chessy
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation — How to Play d5 as White
After 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5, White immediately captures: 3.cxd5. You've traded your c-pawn for Black's d-pawn, opening the centre on your terms. This position, reached in over half a million games on Lichess, is the starting point of the Queen's Knight Variation. You're about to play a flexible setup where piece activity and central control matter more than material — White scores a healthy 50.6% here. The engine gives +0.31, a small edge in your favour, meaning you are slightly better right from the start. The drill below will sharpen your instincts in this line.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: d5 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Ready to put these ideas into practice? Jump into the interactive drill below and play the position yourself. Create a free account to track your progress and,
Create a free account →The Central Exchange: What You're Fighting For
By playing 3.cxd5, you've accepted a temporary pawn sacrifice — Black's knight recaptures on d5, and you'll chase it away with tempo-gaining moves like e4 later. The key idea is simple: you want to dominate the centre with your pawns and pieces while Black's knight becomes a target. The statistics back this up: after the engine's best reply Nxd5 (by far the most common, with 473,996 games), White scores 50.2%. But notice something revealing: every other reply from Black sees White's score climb higher — 53.8% against e6 or Bf5, 55.4% against e5. That's because those moves leave Black a step behind in development. Your task is to punish hesitation, not to memorise a long forced line.
The Engine's Best Path: Nxd5 and Beyond
When Black plays the accurate move Nxd5, the engine recommends you continue with 4.Nxd5 (recapturing with the knight) followed by Nf3 and then c5 and e4. This natural sequence develops your pieces, fights for space, and pressures Black's queenside. The resulting position is fluid — Black has several set-ups to try, but your plan stays consistent: get your kingside pieces out, control the centre, and look for opportunities to expand with e4 or d4. Remember, you're not hunting for a quick knockout; you're building a long-term advantage. The small edge of +0.31 means you have comfortable play, not a guaranteed win, so stay patient and keep improving your position.
Punish Black's Most Common Mistakes
Black sometimes tries to avoid the recapture on d5 — and every alternative is a clear inaccuracy or worse. Let's break down the numbers: e6 is an inaccuracy (losing about 1.0 pawns), Bf5 is a full mistake (losing about 1.6 pawns), and e5 is an inaccuracy (losing about 0.7 pawns). In each case, the recommended move was simply Nxd5. What do these mistakes have in common? They leave a pawn hanging in the centre. After 3.cxd5, the d5 pawn is attacked by your knight on c3 and your queen on the d-file. If Black doesn't recapture, you simply take it. That's over a pawn's worth of advantage for free — exactly the kind of gift you should never refuse. Practise spotting these moments in the drill below.
White Scores by Black's Reply
Here's a quick look at how White performs against Black's most popular choices after 3.cxd5. Nxd5: 50.2% White wins (473,996 games). e6: 53.8% White wins (28,860 games). c6: 50.4% White wins (23,065 games). Bf5: 53.8% White wins (13,373 games). e5: 55.4% White wins (7,246 games). g6: 49.7% White wins (4,576 games). The pattern is clear: when Black plays something other than Nxd5, your winning chances rise noticeably. Only g6 gives Black roughly equal results, and even there it's a statistical dead heat. These numbers are a practical guide — they tell you that staying calm after Nxd5 and striking hard after the inaccuracies is the winning recipe.
Results across 560,756 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd5 | 473,996 | 50.2% |
| e6 | 28,860 | 53.8% |
| c6 | 23,065 | 50.4% |
| Bf5 | 13,373 | 53.8% |
| e5 | 7,246 | 55.4% |
| g6 | 4,576 | 49.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation good for White?
Yes, with a Stockfish evaluation of +0.31 it gives White a small but clear edge. In practice, White wins 50.6% of games on Lichess, with only 45.1% going to Black. You are slightly better from the start, and you can increase that advantage if Black plays inaccurately.
What is the best move for Black after 3.cxd5?
The best move is Nxd5, which has been played nearly 474,000 times. It's the engine's top choice and leads to the most balanced game. Any other move — like e6, Bf5, or e5 — is an inaccuracy or a mistake that hands White a larger advantage.
How should White continue after Black recaptures with Nxd5?
The engine recommends 4.Nxd5, followed by Nf3 and then c5 and e4. This sequence develops naturally, fights for central space, and keeps pressure on Black's position. You don't need to know a deep theory — focus on quick development and central control.
What happens if Black plays e6 or Bf5 on the first move after 3.cxd5?
Both moves are errors. e6 is an inaccuracy losing about 1.0 pawns, and Bf5 is a full mistake losing about 1.6 pawns. In each case Black leaves the d5 pawn hanging, and you should simply capture it. Your winning chances jump to nearly 54%.