Chessy
English Opening: Myers Defense — playing Black
The English Opening: Myers Defense starts with 1.c4 g5, and the first thing you should notice is the price you are paying for the flank push. White is already better in the resulting position, so your job is not to pretend the opening is equal — it is to survive accurately and meet White’s most natural continuations with a clear plan. The drill below lets you practise the critical position move by move, so you can learn what to do when White chooses the most common replies.
Play the English Opening: Myers Defense against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and test your responses in the key position. Create a free account to practise the opening and track your progress.
Create a free account →What the position tells you
This opening is a sharp try, but the numbers are not kind to Black. Stockfish rates this +1.23, a clear advantage for White. That means you are worse here and need to play with care from the very start.
The practical lesson is simple: do not rely on the opening to do the work for you. White has the better structure, the better chances, and the better results in the database, so your task is to find active squares for your pieces and avoid making the position easier for White than it already is.
What the engine wants you to play
The engine's best move here is d4, continuing d4 Bg7 Nc3 e5. That tells you the main idea: challenge the centre and try to keep your pieces active while you develop.
For a Black player, this is a useful reminder that passive waiting will usually make things worse. In this kind of position, you want to combine piece development with a direct fight for central control, because White already has the more comfortable game.
What the database says White prefers
At this exact position, White's most common choices are Nc3, d4, g3, e3, d3, and e4. The most popular move is Nc3, with 39,521 games, and White scores 56.1% there. The next major choice is d4, with 17,732 games, where White scores 56.8%.
That is a strong clue for your training. You should expect White to develop naturally and keep the position open for a stable edge, so the drill should be used to learn how to respond to those calm, principled moves without drifting into a worse game.
How to handle the main practical problem
The biggest problem in Myers Defense is that the kingside pawn move can leave Black short on coordination while White develops normally. Since White is to move in the position after 1.c4 g5, you must be ready for White to choose one of the natural developing moves and keep pressing the edge.
In practice, the best habit is to stay disciplined: develop quickly, look after king safety, and make sure every move helps your pieces come into the game. Against a line that already favours White, accuracy matters more than surprise.
Results across 85,101 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 39,521 | 56.1% |
| d4 | 17,732 | 56.8% |
| g3 | 8,702 | 55.5% |
| e3 | 6,200 | 54.5% |
| d3 | 3,162 | 54.0% |
| e4 | 3,121 | 53.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Myers Defense good for Black?
The results here are not encouraging for Black. Stockfish rates the position +1.23, which is a clear advantage for White, and the database also shows White scoring better overall. It is playable as a surprise weapon, but you should expect to defend a worse position.
What is the best move in this position for Black?
The engine's best move here is d4, continuing d4 Bg7 Nc3 e5. That is the line you should study first in the drill. It shows the kind of active central play Black needs to aim for.
What do White players usually play after 1.c4 g5?
The most played continuations are Nc3, d4, g3, e3, d3, and e4. Nc3 is the most common choice, with 39,521 games, so you should be ready for natural development. White also scores well against each of these replies.
What should I focus on when learning this opening as Black?
Focus on keeping your pieces active and not losing time. Since White already has a clear edge, your main goal is to meet White's most natural continuations and avoid making the position easier to play. The drill is ideal for building that defensive habit.
How many games feature the English Opening: Myers Defense?
Over 85K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Myers Defense position. White wins 55.4%, Black wins 40.9%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.