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Anderssen's Opening: what should White play?
Best move
c4-0.09
By playing c4, you are immediately challenging the center and grabbing space on the queenside. This move transitions the game into an English Opening structure, effectively…
- Games played
- 618K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- -0.09
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why c4 is the best move
c4! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 4 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing c4, you are immediately challenging the center and grabbing space on the queenside. This move transitions the game into an English Opening structure, effectively neutralizing Black's central e5 by controlling the critical d5 square.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| c4 | -0.09 | Positional: Controls d5 and prepares queenside expansion. |
| e4 | -0.11 | Classical: Fights for the center directly and opens lines for the f1 and d1. |
| e3 | -0.18 | Solid: A flexible waiting move that prepares d4 while keeping the king safe. |
| Nc3 | -0.21 | Developmental: Develops a piece to its most natural square to pressure e4 and d5. |
Different paths, same destination: While many players at your level might be tempted to play the awkward Ra2 (seen in 87% of human games!), you chose a much more principled approach. Whether you prefer the aggressive central control of e4 or the strategic complexity of c4, all four options maintain a balanced and healthy position.
Your Continuation
After c4:
Nf6 Nc3 c6 e4 d5
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That the early a3 doesn't have to be a wasted tempo if you follow it up with strong central play. While a1 was technically "losing" its protection from the pawn, your move ignores the bait and focuses on the most important part of the board: the center.
📚 Takeaway: When you have multiple "best" moves, trust your stylistic preference. You found a move that 0% of average human players find—great vision!
What else gets played here
Move choices from 618K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| c4Engine pick | -0.09 | 0 | — | |
| e4 | -0.11 | 0 | — | |
| e3 | -0.18 | 0 | — | |
| Nc3 | -0.21 | 0 | — | |
| d4 | -0.33 | 0 | — |
The line
More positions in the Anderssen's Opening
All Anderssen's Opening positions →Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Anderssen's Opening?
c4 (-0.09). By playing c4, you are immediately challenging the center and grabbing space on the queenside. This move transitions the game into an English Opening structure, effectively…
Why is c4 the best move here?
By playing c4, you are immediately challenging the center and grabbing space on the queenside. This move transitions the game into an English Opening structure, effectively neutralizing Black's central e5 by controlling the critical d5 square.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 618K times in the opening book.