English Opening: Complete Guide
Flexible flank opening — avoid deep theory while keeping winning chances against any setup. Drill every main line against an adaptive engine, backed by real Lichess win rates and Stockfish evaluations.
Play the main line: English Opening
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Create a free account →All 219 variations of the English Opening
Openings & Plans
English Opening
ECO A10
71M games
Anti-Openings
English Opening
ECO A10
71M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: d4
ECO A10
35M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation
ECO A20
28M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: d4
ECO A11
23M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: e5
ECO A10
16M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian
ECO A21
16M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: d4
ECO A13
13M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: d4
ECO A15
13M games
Openings & Plans
English Defense
ECO A40
12M games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: g6
ECO A10
8M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense
ECO A15
8M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: g6
ECO A16
8M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation
ECO A30
7M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
ECO A10
6M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: Nc3
ECO A15
6M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: Nc3
ECO A20
6M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation
ECO A22
6M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense
ECO A13
6M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation
ECO A16
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: e4
ECO A40
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: d5
ECO A10
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: d4
ECO A17
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale
ECO C20
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation
ECO A34
4M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: cxd5
ECO A10
3M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation
ECO A10
3M games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: b6
ECO A10
3M games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: f5
ECO A10
3M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: e6
ECO A10
3M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: d6
ECO A16
3M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System
ECO A11
3M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: e6
ECO A15
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation: Nc3
ECO A10
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian
ECO A25
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System
ECO A22
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: d4
ECO A20
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation
ECO A35
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: e4
ECO A30
2M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: c6
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: Nf3
ECO A40
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System
ECO A17
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: Nf6
ECO C20
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: e4
ECO A11
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: g3
ECO A15
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: g3
ECO A20
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Nf6
ECO A21
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: e3
ECO A15
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: e3
ECO A20
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: e5
ECO A16
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: Nc6
ECO A22
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack
ECO A21
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation
ECO A15
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Nf6
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: Nc3
ECO A13
1M games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: Nc6
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: d4
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: e3
ECO A40
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Nc6
ECO A21
1M games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights
ECO A28
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation
ECO A28
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian: Nf3
ECO A25
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: Nf3
ECO A22
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: e4
ECO A20
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: c5
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: Nc3
ECO A11
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation
ECO A10
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: d6
ECO A15
1M games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: e4
ECO A13
974K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian: g3
ECO A25
966K games
Openings & Plans
English: King's Indian
ECO A15
932K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights, Fianchetto Variation
ECO A36
924K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System
ECO A27
878K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Bc5
ECO A21
716K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: Nc6
ECO C20
715K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: Nc3
ECO A30
710K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation
ECO A10
709K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation: e3
ECO A10
698K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation
ECO A20
681K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation: g3
ECO A10
666K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: Nf3
ECO A11
623K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon
ECO A22
567K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: d5
ECO A16
560K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian: e3
ECO A25
554K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4
ECO A22
545K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: g3
ECO A21
511K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: g3
ECO A22
511K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System
ECO A22
511K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: e6
ECO A34
507K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: e4
ECO A21
465K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: d5
ECO A22
447K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation: d4
ECO A10
443K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: c6
ECO A22
439K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: Nc6
ECO A34
425K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense
ECO A15
425K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: e3
ECO A13
424K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Grünfeld Defense
ECO A16
419K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Grünfeld Defense
ECO A16
419K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation: e4
ECO A28
413K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: d6
ECO C20
409K games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Schulz Gambit
ECO A10
403K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: d4
ECO A22
398K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: d3
ECO A15
391K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: e3
ECO A10
391K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: Nc3
ECO A10
384K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: d6
ECO A21
375K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation
ECO A15
372K games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: c4
ECO A40
368K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation
ECO A31
368K games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: d6
ECO A10
356K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: e6
ECO A16
340K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Mikenas-Carls Variation
ECO A18
340K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
ECO A23
333K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: g3
ECO A35
329K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: g3
ECO A13
323K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation
ECO A35
318K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: Nf3
ECO A35
318K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense: Nf3
ECO A13
316K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: e3
ECO A22
295K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense: Nf3
ECO A15
287K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: c5
ECO A16
286K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Fianchetto Variation
ECO A34
286K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: Nf6
ECO A34
276K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights Variation
ECO A34
276K games
Openings & Plans
English: Symmetrical
ECO A30
276K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: g3
ECO A11
274K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian: d3
ECO A25
261K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: g3
ECO A17
255K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: Nc3
ECO A10
245K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: Bc5
ECO C20
244K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: e4
ECO A10
234K games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights: e4
ECO A28
227K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: d6
ECO A34
220K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: d5
ECO A15
218K games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: Bf4
ECO A40
216K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian: e4
ECO A25
212K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4
ECO A35
211K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: c6
ECO A15
204K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: g3
ECO A10
193K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: f5
ECO A21
193K games
Gambits
English Opening: Jaenisch Gambit
ECO A10
188K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation: d3
ECO A22
184K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: Nc3
ECO A10
184K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: e3
ECO A17
169K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation
ECO A15
169K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e3
ECO A35
162K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: Bb4
ECO A21
155K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: c5
ECO C20
155K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation
ECO A15
150K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System: e3
ECO A11
148K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: g3
ECO A10
128K games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights: e3
ECO A28
125K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation: e3
ECO A28
125K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: g3
ECO A10
125K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: g3
ECO A30
125K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian
ECO A19
112K games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights: d4
ECO A28
108K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation: d4
ECO A28
108K games
Anti-Openings
English Opening: b5
ECO A10
106K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation
ECO A20
102K games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Löhn Gambit
ECO A10
102K games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Löhn Gambit
ECO A10
102K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Keres Defense
ECO A21
98K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: d6
ECO A22
93K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: g6
ECO A15
90K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: a3
ECO A21
90K games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights: g3
ECO A28
88K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation: g3
ECO A28
88K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: Nf3
ECO A10
87K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: Nf3
ECO A30
87K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Myers Defense
ECO A10
85K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Neo-Catalan
ECO A13
83K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: e4
ECO A17
77K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: Nf3
ECO A17
75K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Nimzo-English
ECO A17
75K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: Nf3
ECO A21
73K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: The Whale: c6
ECO C20
69K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation: c5
ECO A15
68K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: e3
ECO A21
65K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line
ECO A24
60K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System: d3
ECO A17
59K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: d4
ECO A10
57K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Great Snake Variation: e3
ECO A10
54K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: e3
ECO A30
54K games
Openings & Plans
English: Four Knights: d3
ECO A28
53K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation: d3
ECO A28
53K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: d3
ECO A35
49K games
Openings & Plans
English Defense: Nc3
ECO A40
47K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: g6
ECO A34
47K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: c5
ECO A10
45K games
Gambits
English Opening: Myers Gambit
ECO A10
43K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: Bc5
ECO A22
38K games
Gambits
English Opening: Achilles-Omega Gambit
ECO A10
31K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Smyslov Defense
ECO A21
30K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Adorjan Defense
ECO A10
28K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Kurajica Defense
ECO A13
27K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: Nf3
ECO A10
27K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation
ECO A17
26K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense
ECO A13
22K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: e3
ECO A10
22K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Carls-Bremen System: Bb4
ECO A22
18K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Normal Variation: b6
ECO A34
18K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation: d3
ECO A30
15K games
Gambits
English Opening: Wing Gambit
ECO A30
15K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English, Mazedonisch
ECO A22
11K games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense, Hickmann Gambit
ECO A10
8K games
Gambits
English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit
ECO A40
6K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation: d3
ECO A20
5K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Drill Variation
ECO A20
5K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack: Nd5
ECO A21
5K games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Variation, Ferenc Gambit
ECO A10
4K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Grünfeld Formation
ECO A15
3K games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Slav Formation
ECO A15
2K games
Gambits
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Napolitano Gambit
ECO A30
1K games
Gambits
English Opening: Wade Gambit
ECO A10
1K games
Gambits
English Opening: Zilbermints Gambit
ECO A10
906 games
Openings & Plans
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Romanishin Variation
ECO A15
821 games
Gambits
English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Variation, Chabanon Gambit
ECO A10
124 games
Frequently asked questions about the English Opening
What is the english in chess?
The English is a chess opening family with 219 variations covered on Chessy. Over 515 million Lichess games have reached these positions across all rating levels.