Chessy
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon
In this line, White gets the first turn in a position that is already slightly better for your opponent. That does not mean you are lost, but it does mean you need to handle the opening with care and choose active, accurate play. The drill below puts you in the exact position after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5, so you can practise the critical reply and learn what White is most likely to do next.
Play the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon against the engine
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Create a free account →What the engine wants you to do
Stockfish rates this +0.32, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s top move is cxd5, and the continuation given is cxd5 Nxd5 Bg2 Nb6. Your first job is simple: meet the position actively instead of drifting, because this opening rewards the side that reacts cleanly to the central tension.
What the numbers say about the drill position
This exact position has been played 567,366 times in the Lichess database. White wins 51.3%, draws 4.1%, and Black wins 44.6%. Those numbers tell you that Black can survive, but White scores better overall. For a practical training game, that means you should expect White to keep pressing and you should be ready to answer accurately rather than rely on passive move-order tricks.
White’s most common choices
The most-played continuation is cxd5, with 439,553 games and White scoring 52.7%. The other main tries are Bg2 (84,098 games, White scores 49.0%), b3 (13,366 games, White scores 41.9%), e3 (12,578 games, White scores 42.5%), and d3 (8,304 games, White scores 41.9%). There is also d4 (3,060 games, White scores 44.3%). So this is not a one-reply puzzle: White has several practical options, and you should know which ones are critical and which ones are less threatening.
The mistakes to punish
The clearest lesson here is that some quiet developing moves are not accurate. Bg2 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns, with cxd5 better. b3 is also a mistake and loses about 1.7 pawns, again with cxd5 better. e3 is the worst of the listed mistakes, losing about 1.9 pawns, and cxd5 is still the better choice. If White delays the central decision, you can often punish that hesitation by staying alert to the centre and the piece activity that follows.
Results across 567,366 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| cxd5 | 439,553 | 52.7% |
| Bg2 | 84,098 | 49.0% |
| b3 | 13,366 | 41.9% |
| e3 | 12,578 | 42.5% |
| d3 | 8,304 | 41.9% |
| d4 | 3,060 | 44.3% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this position from?
It comes from the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon. The move order is 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5, and in the resulting position White is to move while you play Black.
Is this line good for Black?
Stockfish gives +0.32, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, so this is a line where accurate defence matters more than hoping for a big advantage.
What is the best move for White here?
The engine’s best move is **cxd5**, with the continuation **cxd5 Nxd5 Bg2 Nb6**. White also plays **cxd5** most often in the database, so you should expect it in the drill.
Which White moves should I know about?
The most common alternatives are **Bg2**, **b3**, **e3**, **d3**, and **d4**. Among those, **Bg2**, **b3**, and **e3** are listed as mistakes, so they are good targets for practical preparation.
How many games feature the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon?
Over 567K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 44.6%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.