Chessy
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation — d6
After 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4, you have reached a solid, strategic battleground in the English Opening. This position, coded ECO A16, sees Black immediately preparing to fight for the centre while keeping their options open. Stockfish rates this +0.52, a small but clear edge for you as White — and the statistics back that up, with White winning 49.6% of the time across over three million games in the Lichess database. Below the drill, you'll learn which Black replies are most popular, what the engine recommends, and how to press your advantage.
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
This position is all about central space and piece flexibility. By playing 3.d4, you've established a strong pawn duo on c4 and d4, claiming the centre. Black's d6 has prepared ...e5 or ...c5 to challenge you, while keeping the king's bishop free to develop to g7 or f5. The evaluation of +0.52 means White stands slightly better, owing to the extra central pawn and easier development. In this opening, you're not aiming for a quick knockout. Instead, you want to build a harmonious setup: develop your kingside pieces, castle, and then decide whether to push forward in the centre or expand on the queenside. The engine's recommended plan (g6 e4 Bg7 Be2) shows you meeting Black's King's Indian–style setup with a big centre and calm development.
The Engine's Best Answer: g6
Black's most frequent move — played 1,803,650 times — is g6, heading for a King's Indian Defence setup. The engine's full continuation is g6 e4 Bg7 Be2. That means after Black castles fianchetto, you should respond with 4.e4, seizing even more space, and then develop your king's bishop to e2. This keeps your king safe and supports your central pawns. Despite g6 being the most popular reply, your White winning percentage here is 48.6% — still healthy, since draws (4.1% overall) favour the higher-rated side in practice. If Black plays g6, your job is to maintain the centre and watch for typical King's Indian counterplay like ...e5 or ...c5.
What the Numbers Say About Black's Choices
The statistics reveal which Black replies give you the best and toughest chances. Here are the most-played moves and your scoring percentage as White: c6 (315,424 games, you score 49.6%), Nbd7 (261,899 games, 47.7%), Bf5 (146,365 games, 51.1%), e5 (128,671 games, 51.4%), and e6 (124,045 games, 53.6%). Notice a pattern? Black's most ambitious tries like ...e5 and ...e6 give you your highest win rates — over 51% and 53% respectively. That's because those moves commit to a central pawn structure where your c4-d4 duo can be more dangerous. Your lowest score comes against ...Nbd7 (47.7%), a flexible, solid developing move that avoids early commitments. As a rule of thumb, welcome Black's central pawn pushes and be slightly more patient against their quiet moves.
Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes
In this position, typical White errors come from over-pressing or misplacing pieces. The most punished mistakes include: advancing the d-pawn too early without development support, allowing Black to trade off your centre pawns and leave you with a slightly isolated c-pawn, and neglecting kingside development in favour of a quick queenside attack. Remember the engine's idea — after ...g6, simply play e4, then Be2, and castle. That is a safe, strong plan. Against other Black moves like ...Bf5 or ...e6, your priorities stay the same: develop your knights, get your king to safety, and only then look for breaks like d5 or b4. Keep it simple, keep developing, and let your small edge (+0.52) grow as the game unfolds.
Results across 3,099,399 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| g6 | 1,803,650 | 48.6% |
| c6 | 315,424 | 49.6% |
| Nbd7 | 261,899 | 47.7% |
| Bf5 | 146,365 | 51.1% |
| e5 | 128,671 | 51.4% |
| e6 | 124,045 | 53.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense d6 good for White?
Yes, Stockfish evaluates this position at +0.52, a small but clear edge for White. In practice, White wins 49.6% of the time across over three million games, which is a strong result at the club level. Your central space and easier development give you a comfortable position to work with.
What is the most common Black reply to 3.d4 in this line?
The most common Black move is g6, played 1,803,650 times in the Lichess database. It leads to a King's Indian-style setup. The engine recommends you meet it with 4.e4, followed by Bg7 Be2 — building a big centre and developing naturally.
Which Black reply gives White the highest winning percentage?
Black's move e6 gives you your best score, with White winning 53.6% of the time (from 124,045 games). Similarly, e5 gives White 51.4% and Bf5 gives 51.1%. These central commitments tend to let you exploit your pawn duo more effectively.
Why is Nbd7 a tricky response for White?
Black's Nbd7 is a flexible, solid developing move that avoids immediate commitments. White scores only 47.7% against it — your lowest among the major replies. This is because Black keeps the tension in the centre and waits for you to overextend. Against Nbd7, focus on completing development before pushing pawns.
How many games feature the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: d6?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: d6 position. White wins 49.6%, Black wins 46.4%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.