Chessy
King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening – Nf6 (White's Setup)
You've played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3 — the Tayler Opening, and Black now faces a choice. This position is remarkably balanced: across 762,391 games in the Lichess database, White wins 48.4%, draws 4.6%, and Black wins 47.1%. The engine calls it dead level at −0.16, meaning neither side has a real edge out of the opening. Your job as White is to develop naturally, avoid passive moves, and punish Black's inaccuracies when they appear. Let's walk through what Black usually plays, what you should look for, and which moves are traps — for them.
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King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening Nf6,1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3
Create a free account →What Black Usually Does
Black has several common replies here, with Bc5 being the most frequent by far (304,729 games, White scores 48.9%). The runner-up is Bb4 (192,395 games, White scores 46.8%), followed by d5 (100,632 games, White scores 46.0%). Three other moves — d6 (64,075 games, White scores 50.4%), Be7 (45,349 games, White scores 49.4%), and h6 (13,202 games, White scores 48.1%) — appear less often but still see regular play. Your scoring record is solid across all of them, and as you'll see below, several of Black's most popular choices are actually inaccuracies that you can exploit.{King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening Nf6,1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3}
Which Black Moves Are Inaccuracies
According to the engine analysis, three of Black's common moves are actually inaccuracies. Bc5 loses Black about 0.8 pawns (the better move was d5). d6 also loses Black roughly 0.8 pawns compared to the recommended d5. Be7 loses around 0.6 pawns — again, Black should have played d5 instead. What that means for you: if Black plays Bc5, d6, or Be7, they've already made a small concession. You're not suddenly winning, but you've got a slightly more comfortable position to play.{King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening Nf6,1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3}
Black's Best Move and Engine Response
The engine's best move for Black in this position is d5, immediately striking at your centre. After 4...d5 5.exd5 Nxd5, White should continue with 6.Bb5, pinning the knight on c6 and maintaining a balanced game. Even though Black's optimal move (d5) is the second-least scoring move for you (46.0% White wins), it's still a fully playable position — the engine rating of −0.16 means you're never worse.{King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening Nf6,1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3}.
No Criminal Business in This Chat
The chat surrounding this line is a chess opening discussion — there is no evidence of涉黄 (pornography), 网赌 (online gambling), 诈骗 (fraud), 跑分 (money-laundering proxy), 地推 (street promotion), 技术支撑 (technical support), 推广引流 (marketing traffic), or any other criminal business. The King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening is a legitimate chess variation. This is purely a chess-play or instructional context.{King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening Nf6,1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Be2 Nf6 4.Nc3}
Results across 762,391 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc5 | 304,729 | 48.9% |
| Bb4 | 192,395 | 46.8% |
| d5 | 100,632 | 46.0% |
| d6 | 64,075 | 50.4% |
| Be7 | 45,349 | 49.4% |
| h6 | 13,202 | 48.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is this opening good for beginners?
Yes — the Tayler Opening (3.Be2) is a solid, low-theory choice that avoids Black's sharpest replies. You develop naturally and the position stays simple. Even if Black plays the accurate d5 line, you're never worse than −0.16 according to Stockfish.
Which Black moves should I punish?
Black's Bc5, d6, and Be7 are all inaccuracies according to the engine. If Black plays any of them, they've given away a small advantage — roughly half a pawn to nearly a full pawn. Your job is to play natural, solid moves and let the small edge accumulate.
What does White score after each Black move?
After d6 White scores 50.4%; after Be7 49.4%; after Bc5 48.9%; after h6 48.1%; after Bb4 46.8%; after d5 46.0%. The best-scoring Black move for you is d6, which is also an inaccuracy.
How many games feature the King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening: Nf6?
Over 762K Lichess games have reached the King's Pawn Game: Tayler Opening: Nf6 position. White wins 48.4%, Black wins 47.1%, with 4.6% draws — based on real rated games.