Chessy
How to Play the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Bb4
After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4, you have a chance to seize the centre immediately with 3.Nd5. This is a sharp, principled response: you attack the bishop and stake a claim in the middle of the board. The position is roughly equal — Stockfish rates it +0.29, a tiny edge for you as White — but the real story is in how Black answers. Over 155,000 games have reached this exact spot, and your winning chances are solid: White scores 53.7% overall. The drill below will teach you how to handle the most common replies and punish inaccuracies.
Play the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Bb4 against the engine
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
With 3.Nd5 you are aiming for the kind of central activity that makes the English Opening dangerous. The knight on d5 is annoying for Black — it eyes c7 and e7 and forces the bishop on b4 to make a decision. The engine's favourite reply is the surprising a5, planning to develop with a5 Nf3 e4 Ng5, but in practice human opponents usually prefer to move the bishop. Your long-term idea is simple: develop naturally, keep the knight on d5 as long as it is safe, and prepare to meet ...e4 with a well-timed counter. You are slightly better here, not winning yet, but you hold the initiative.
The Most-Played Replies (and What They Tell You)
In master and amateur practice, five moves dominate. Here is how White scores against each one: - Bc5 (68,580 games — by far the most common): White scores 52.0%. Black's bishop goes to a good diagonal but blocks the f-pawn. You can reply Nf3, preparing d4. - Nc6 (23,155 games): White scores 52.0%. Black develops naturally. Again, Nf3 is solid, and you can follow up with d4 or g3. - Bd6 (14,738 games): White scores 53.1%. Black tucks the bishop away, but it is somewhat passive. This is a good sign for you. - Ba5 (12,410 games): White scores 51.1%. This is actually a mistake (more on that below). - a5 (12,075 games): White scores 52.2%. The engine's top choice is rare at club level but not dangerous for you. - c5 (6,314 games): White scores 54.9%. Also a mistake. All of these are playable for Black, but your statistics are consistently above 50%, confirming the +0.29 edge is real.
The Two Mistakes to Punish
Two moves stand out as clear inaccuracies. If Black plays Ba5, the engine says it loses about 0.8 pawns compared to the best move (Bc5). And if Black plays c5, that loses about 0.7 pawns. What do you do? Against Ba5, the knight on d5 is well placed — you can continue with Nf3, threatening to drive the knight away with ...e4? No, wait — Black has no knight on f6 yet. Just develop: Nf3, then d4, and enjoy the space advantage. Against c5, Black weakens the d5-square and the d6-pawn. Again, simple development with Nf3 and later d4 gives you a comfortable game. The key is not to overreact — just keep building your position.
How to Handle the Engine's Top Reply
The computer's best move is a5, preparing a queenside expansion or ...e4 followed by ...Ng5 ideas. This is only the fifth-most-played line in practice, but you should know what to do. After a5, the engine recommends Nf3. Then if Black plays e4, your knight goes to g5. From there you can aim for d3 or f4 to challenge the pawn. This line is trickier than the bishop moves, but your statistics are still healthy (52.2%). Just stay calm: develop, keep the d5 knight posted, and do not let Black's e-pawn become a monster.
Results across 155,993 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc5 | 68,580 | 52.0% |
| Nc6 | 23,155 | 52.0% |
| Bd6 | 14,738 | 53.1% |
| Ba5 | 12,410 | 51.1% |
| a5 | 12,075 | 52.2% |
| c5 | 6,314 | 54.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 3.Nd5 a good move against the Bb4 line in the English Opening?
Yes. The engine gives +0.29, a small edge for White, and across over 155,000 games White scores 53.7%. It is the principled way to challenge Black's set-up and creates immediate tension in the centre.
What is the best reply to Bc5 after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5?
Bc5 is the most popular move (68,580 games), and White scores 52.0% against it. The natural plan is to play Nf3, develop the kingside, and prepare d4. Black's bishop on c5 is active but blocks the f-pawn, so your centre push is well timed.
Why is Ba5 a mistake in this position?
The engine marks Ba5 as an inaccuracy that loses about 0.8 pawns compared to the best move (Bc5). The bishop ends up awkwardly on a5, where it no longer pressures your king or centre. You can simply develop with Nf3 and prepare d4, gaining space while Black's bishop is misplaced.
How does White continue if Black plays a5?
a5 is the engine's top recommendation for Black. White's best answer is Nf3. If Black then plays e4, your knight goes to g5, and you can follow up with d3 or f4. White scores 52.2% in this line — just develop naturally and keep the knight on d5.