Chessy
Play the English Opening: Keres Variation as Black
After 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 c6, you reach a position where White chooses the next plan and you must be ready for several setups. The good news is simple: Stockfish says this is dead level, so you do not need to memorise a forced win or defend a worse game. In the drill below, practise meeting White’s choices with calm development, sound central play, and good piece placement.
Play the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill below and practise this position as Black. Create a free account to track your progress and sharpen your reply.
Create a free account →A balanced position, not a crisis
Stockfish rates this +0.04, a tiny edge for White. That means you are basically equal here. This is a useful opening to know as Black because the position is still flexible: you are not solving an emergency, but you do need to choose a sensible plan and keep your pieces coordinated.
What the main reply tells you
The engine’s best move here is Nf3, continuing Nf3 e4 Nd4 d5. That tells you what Black is fighting against: White wants a natural development path and central control, and Black must respond with active play rather than passivity. In the drill, pay attention to how quickly your pieces join the game and how cleanly you handle the centre.
What the database says White tries most
The most-played continuation is Bg2, with 291,981 games and White scoring 50.0%. The other common choices are Nf3, e4, d4, d3, and e3. This mix is helpful: White can keep things quiet, push in the centre, or develop naturally, so you should be comfortable against more than one idea rather than just one memorised line.
The practical warning signs
Two moves stand out as known mistakes in this exact position. d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; the better move was d4. e3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; again, d4 was better. If White chooses one of these slower setups, you should be alert to take over the centre and make the most of the better placement White has given up.
Results across 333,611 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg2 | 291,981 | 50.0% |
| Nf3 | 12,283 | 53.6% |
| e4 | 11,559 | 50.2% |
| d4 | 6,715 | 56.2% |
| d3 | 4,601 | 48.0% |
| e3 | 4,140 | 47.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is this position good for Black in the English Opening?
It is not better for Black, but it is also not bad. Stockfish gives +0.04, which means the position is essentially level and White only has a very small edge. Your goal is to stay solid, develop well, and avoid giving White an easy central bind.
What is the best move for Black to know here?
The engine’s best move here is Nf3 for White to continue against, with the line continuing Nf3 e4 Nd4 d5. As Black, you should understand that White is looking for active central play, so you need to answer with good development and a clear plan.
Which White move is most common in this position?
Bg2 is by far the most played continuation, with 291,981 games. That makes it the most useful branch to recognise in training, because you are very likely to see it over the board or in online games.
Are there obvious mistakes White can make here?
Yes. d3 and e3 are both marked as inaccuracies, and both are worse than d4. If White chooses one of those quieter moves, you should be ready to use the extra space and central chances they have given you.
How many games feature the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation?
Over 333K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation position. White wins 50.1%, Black wins 45.9%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.