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English Opening: King's English Variation: what should White play?
Best move
b4+0.20
By playing b4, you are seizing immediate space on the queenside and preparing a powerful fianchetto for your c1. This move restricts Black's c6 and prepares to challenge the…
- Games played
- 137K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.20
- Depth
- 22
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why b4 is the best move
b4! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 2 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing b4, you are seizing immediate space on the queenside and preparing a powerful fianchetto for your c1. This move restricts Black's c6 and prepares to challenge the center from the flank, a hallmark of sophisticated English Opening play.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| b4 | +0.20 | Expansionist: Gains space and prepares Bb2 to pressure e5. |
| e3 | +0.08 | Solid: Controls d4 and prepares development for the Kingside pieces. |
Different paths, same destination: While most players at your level instinctively play Nc3, you found a much more ambitious and rare idea. Only 3% of humans find b4! It is a high-level positional choice that forces Black to react to your queenside pressure rather than simply developing naturally.
Your Continuation
After b4:
Nf6 Bb2 a6 e3 d5
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That the pawn on a3 was not just a defensive move, but a springboard for expansion. By ignoring the standard Nc3, you've created a unique pawn structure that makes it very difficult for Black to find a comfortable setup.
📚 Takeaway: In positions with multiple good moves, trust your style! You chose the most testing, aggressive path available.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 137K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | -0.01 | 57K | 53% | |
| e3 | +0.08 | 43K | 54% | |
| b4Engine pick | +0.20 | 27K | 52% | |
| d3 | -0.09 | 11K | 53% | |
| h4 | -0.26 | 0 | — |
More positions in the English Opening
- Best moveNf6Knight g8 → f6English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian29M games
- Best moveNc3Knight b1 → c3English Opening: Agincourt Defense21M games
- Best movecxd5Pawn c4 → d5English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense16M games
- Best moveg3Pawn g2 → g3English Opening: King's English Variation4.43M games
- Best moveBg2Bishop f1 → g2English Opening: King's English Variation3.48M games
- Best moved4Pawn d2 → d4English Opening: King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System999K games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the English Opening: King's English Variation?
b4 (+0.20). By playing b4, you are seizing immediate space on the queenside and preparing a powerful fianchetto for your c1. This move restricts Black's c6 and prepares to challenge the…
Why is b4 the best move here?
By playing b4, you are seizing immediate space on the queenside and preparing a powerful fianchetto for your c1. This move restricts Black's c6 and prepares to challenge the center from the flank, a hallmark of sophisticated English Opening play.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 137K times in the opening book.