English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian: what to play after Nc3?

In the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian (ECO A21), Black faces White's knight development to c3 across more than 29 million recorded positions. The primary recommendation is Nf6, developing the kingside knight and maintaining dynamic parity with an engine evaluation of +0.01. Other reliable setups for Black include the active bishop sortie Bb4 and the classical knight development Nc6.

Main continuations with 2...Nf6

Selecting Nf6 allows Black to contest the central light squares immediately while preparing natural kingside development. In the primary illustrative line Nf6 Nf3 Nc6 g3 d5 cxd5, play transitions toward a classical Four Knights structure where Black can strike at the center with a timely pawn push to d5. This keeps White's advantage to a negligible +0.01, representing Black's most reliable statistical and positional equalizer.

Pinning ideas with 2...Bb4

The immediate development Bb4 evaluates at +0.15 and directly addresses White's knight on c3. An illustrative continuation runs Bb4 Nd5 Be7 Nf3 d6 g3, where White utilizes the forward outpost on d5 while Black preserves the bishop pair by dropping back to e7. This variation leads to maneuvering play where Black solidifies the central structure around d6 and e5.

Classical setups and pawn thrusts

Black also frequently employs Nc6 (evaluating at +0.19), supporting the e5 pawn and leading into illustrative play such as Nc6 g3 Bb4 Nd5 a5 a3. More aggressive options include f5 (+0.29), initiating a Grand Prix style setup, or the solid d6 (+0.31). Both thrusts are tested against central counter-strikes as shown in lines like f5 Nf3 d6 d4 e4 Ng1 and d6 Nf3 f5 d4 e4 Ng1, giving Black space on the kingside at the cost of slight development concessions.