Chessy
Playing Black in the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counteratt
After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4, the fight for the centre has already begun. You don't retreat — you counterattack: 3...Nd5! This aggressive knight sortie challenges White's bishop pin head-on. After 3...Nd5 Be7, White faces a choice: trade the dark-squared bishops, develop calmly, or strike in the centre. The engine rates the position +0.34, a small edge for your opponent, meaning you are slightly worse but far from lost. Across 5,535 games from this exact position, the score is razor-thin: White wins 48.1%, draws 4.1%, Black wins 47.8%. The drill below puts you in Black's seat — see if you can defend this dynamic, double-edged line.
Play the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: Nd5 against the engine
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For: The Dark Squares
The Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack is all about control of the dark squares in the centre. After 2...Bb4, Black pins the knight, but 3...Nd5 immediately breaks the pin and forces White to declare intentions. By playing ...Be7, you retreat the bishop to a flexible square, keeping options open. Your pawn on e5 stakes a claim in the centre, and your knight on d5 eyes both c7 and f6. The position remains tense because White has not yet committed to a pawn structure. Stockfish gives +0.34, a small plus for White, so you are slightly worse — but that edge is fragile. In over 5,500 games, Black scores almost as well as White does, which tells you the position offers real winning chances for both sides.
How to Meet White's Most Popular Reply
White's most common move here is Nxe7 (1,184 games), immediately trading bishops and recapturing with the knight on d5. After Nxe7 Ncxe7, the position simplifies early. This is a clear psychological win for Black: you've forced White to trade a bishop for a knight, and the knight on e7 can later reroute to g6 or c6. Black scores 48.0% from this line — nearly equal. Your plan: develop naturally (d6, Nf6 or Ng6, O-O) and prepare …f5 or …d5 to challenge White's centre. The swap reduces White's attacking potential, so the game becomes a quiet positional struggle where your active pieces matter more than the slight imbalance.
The Engine's Recommendation and What It Means
Stockfish's top choice is 4.Nf3, continuing Nf3 d6 d4 exd4. That line leads to a more open centre, which is what White typically wants. After 4.Nf3 d6 5.d4 exd4, you have given back the centre pawn and will recapture with a piece. In these positions, your king safety is fine, and your knight on d5 is a strong outpost. Black manages a 49.2% score here across 1,006 games — the highest Black win percentage among the major lines. That is not an accident: the open centre lets Black's active pieces coordinate well. If you meet 4.Nf3 with 4...d6, you are following the most principled path and doing exactly what engine analysis suggests.
Other White Setups to Know
Two aggressive tries deserve attention. After 4.e4 (713 games), Black scores 53.2% — better than White does! The push e4 looks natural, but it walks into ...d5 or ...Nf6 ideas that can give Black an easy game. Black's 46.8% score for White in this line is the worst for any major continuation, so 4.e4 may actually be what you hope to see. Meanwhile, 4.a3 (443 games) forces immediate bishop clarification: you can retreat to f6 or d6, or even play ...Bb4xc3. White scores only 46.3% here, the lowest of all. Both 4.e4 and 4.a3 offer Black comfortable equality and a straightforward plan.
Results across 5,535 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxe7 | 1,184 | 48.0% |
| Nf3 | 1,006 | 49.2% |
| g3 | 919 | 48.4% |
| e4 | 713 | 46.8% |
| a3 | 443 | 46.3% |
| e3 | 345 | 47.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack good for Black?
Statistically, yes — across 5,535 games White wins only 48.1% and Black wins 47.8%, with the rest drawn. The engine gives a small edge to White (+0.34), meaning you are slightly worse theoretically, but the practical results are nearly dead even. It is a reliable weapon for club players.
What is Black's main idea after 3...Nd5 Be7?
Black has forced the trade or retreat of White's dark-squared bishop, reduced White's attacking potential, and placed a strong knight on d5. Your general plan is to complete development with ...d6, ...Nf6 or ...Ng6, and castle kingside, then challenge the centre with ...c6 or ...f5 depending on how White plays.
Should Black be happy if White plays Nxe7?
Yes. After Nxe7 Ncxe7, Black has equalised easily. The position is simplified, White has no attacking trumps, and Black's knight on e7 can move to g6 to pressure the centre or defend the kingside. Black scores 48.0% from this line, which is essentially parity.
What if White plays 4.e4 or 4.a3 — are those dangerous?
Not really. In fact, 4.e4 gives Black a 53.2% score, and 4.a3 gives Black a 53.7% score — both represent White's worst results among the major continuations. Against 4.e4, look for ...d5 or ...Nf6 to challenge the centre immediately. Against 4.a3, simply retreat the bishop to a safe square and continue development.