Chessy
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian
After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3, you reach a very flexible position with no one clearly better. Stockfish rates it +0.12, which means White has a tiny pull, but the opening is still essentially level. That makes this a great drill position: you need to know your ideas, not just your moves. In the exercise below, focus on developing smoothly, reacting to Black's most common replies, and avoiding the one known mistake in the position.
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Create a free account →What this opening is really about
This line is all about calm development and good piece placement. You are not trying to force a tactic from the first moves; instead, you want to build a position where your pieces work together and Black has to choose a plan. The engine's best move here is Nf6, and the continuation Nf6 Nf3 Nc6 g3 shows the kind of natural setup that can arise. Keep your position flexible, develop harmoniously, and be ready to meet several different setups from Black.
What the database says
The database confirms that this exact position is very playable. Across 16,507,921 games, White wins 52.2%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 43.9%. That is a useful practical sign: the position is balanced, but White does fine here in real games. The most popular replies are Nf6 with 6,142,454 games, Nc6 with 2,684,971, Bc5 with 2,279,264, d6 with 1,429,793, Bb4 with 1,202,671, and c6 with 889,226.
The move to respect
There is one known mistake in this position: c6 is an inaccuracy. It loses about 0.6 pawns, and the better move was Nf6. If Black chooses c6, you should be alert that their setup is not the most accurate one. In practical terms, that gives you a comfortable start to the middlegame, but you still need to play good developing moves and keep your king safe.
How to handle Black's main replies
Because this position can branch in several directions, the key skill is staying principled. Against the most popular reply, Nf6, continue to develop naturally and keep your structure flexible. Nc6, Bc5, d6, and Bb4 are all common enough that you should be ready for them in the drill. The main lesson is simple: do not rush, do not grab at ghosts, and keep your pieces on active squares.
Results across 16,507,921 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 6,142,454 | 51.3% |
| Nc6 | 2,684,971 | 52.8% |
| Bc5 | 2,279,264 | 53.1% |
| d6 | 1,429,793 | 52.3% |
| Bb4 | 1,202,671 | 51.1% |
| c6 | 889,226 | 52.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian good for White?
In this exact position, the evaluation is +0.12, so White has only a tiny pull and the opening is basically level. The database results are also healthy for White, with White scoring 52.2% across 16,507,921 games.
What should White aim for after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3?
Your goal is smooth development and flexible piece placement. The engine's best move for Black is Nf6, and the sample continuation Nf6 Nf3 Nc6 g3 shows a natural setup rather than a forced tactical line.
What is Black's most common reply in this position?
Black's most-played continuation is Nf6, with 6,142,454 games. Other common replies are Nc6, Bc5, d6, Bb4, and c6, so you should be ready to face several setups in the drill.
Is there a trap or big mistake to look for here?
The known mistake in this position is c6. It is listed as an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, while Nf6 is the better move.
How many games feature the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian?
Over 17 million Lichess games have reached the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian position. White wins 52.2%, Black wins 43.9%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.