Chessy
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System with c6 — a Level Starting Point
You've played 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 c6 4.Bg2, and now Black is on the move. The engine evaluates this position at -0.01, which means you are absolutely level — neither side has any advantage at all. With a 50% win rate for White across nearly 440,000 games, this is as fair a fight as chess offers. The question is: what do you do if Black tries to seize the centre with d5, or pins your knight with Bb4, or plays something looser? The interactive drill below will help you build a reliable response to each of Black's main options.
Play the English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: c6 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill now and practise meeting d5, Bb4, Bc5, and the rare Na6. Free to play — build your Carls-Bremen repertoire move by move. Your e-
Create a free account →The Battle for the Centre
After 4.Bg2, Black's most popular move by far is 5...d5, played in over 195,000 games. That push challenges your central pawn structure immediately. Black scores 48.8% from here, and White scores essentially the same — a true toss-up. The engine's preferred continuation for White in this line runs d5 d4 e4 a3, which clamps down on the centre and keeps space. If you meet 5...d5 with confidence, you'll stay in the kind of closed, manoeuvring game where the English Opening shines. Your g2 bishop eyes the long diagonal, so fights over the d5 and e4 squares will shape the whole middlegame.
Pins and Threats: Meeting Bb4
The second most common reply is 5...Bb4, pinning your knight on c3. Black has played this 92,627 times, scoring 49.3% — again, dead even. Your job here is to decide whether to break the pin immediately with Bd2 or to reinforce the centre first. Do not let the pin panic you into a passive move. The statistics show that White players who handle this calmly score normally. The key is to remember that your bishop on g2 keeps pressure on Black's kingside and centre, so the pin is more annoying than dangerous. Try a few responses in the drill and see which one feels most natural for your style.
The Surprise: Bc5 and Your Best Score
When Black plays 5...Bc5 (48,131 games), your win rate jumps to 52.5% — the highest White score against any common move. Why? The bishop on c5 does not help Black control the centre the way d5 does, and it can become a target after you advance your d-pawn. Black also has 5...Be7 and 5...d6, both scoring around 50-51% for White. All of these moves are respectable, but none of them challenge your setup as effectively as d5 or Bb4. If you face Bc5, be happy — the position still favours nobody, but you are entering a line where Black has a slightly harder time equalising fully.
The One Mistake to Know
The database flags 5...Na6 as an inaccuracy, losing roughly 0.6 pawns of advantage (the evaluation drops from -0.01 to something clearly better for White). Only 6,106 games reached this position, and White scores 53.7% — the highest win percentage of all moves. If your opponent plays Na6, they have misplaced their knight to the edge of the board without improving their central control. Punish it with natural development and a timely d-pawn push. The drill will show you the engine's punishing reply so you never let this gift slip away.
Results across 439,684 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 195,574 | 48.8% |
| Bb4 | 92,627 | 49.3% |
| Bc5 | 48,131 | 52.5% |
| d6 | 40,619 | 50.7% |
| Be7 | 29,965 | 50.4% |
| Na6 | 6,106 | 53.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Carls-Bremen System good for White?
Statistically, it is extremely balanced. White wins 50.0% of games from this position, Black wins 46.0%, and draws are at 4.0%. The engine evaluation of -0.01 confirms that neither side has any edge. It is a sound, solid opening choice that leads to rich middlegame play.
What is Black's best move after 4.Bg2 in the Carls-Bremen?
The most popular move is 5...d5, played over 195,000 times. It is also the engine's first choice, continuing with plans like ...d4 to gain space. Black scores a normal 48.8% from that line, so while it is the toughest test, White has every chance to play for a win.
How should White respond to 5...Bb4?
5...Bb4 pins your knight on c3. Black plays it 92,627 times with a 49.3% score. You can break the pin with Bd2 or develop naturally and break it later. The position remains equal, so focus on controlling the centre and getting your pieces out.
Is 5...Na6 a mistake for Black?
Yes, it is classified as an inaccuracy that costs about 0.6 pawns. Only 6,106 games reach this position, and White scores a strong 53.7%. Black's knight goes to a passive square, and White can seize the initiative with a well-timed advance in the centre.