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English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: what to play after Nf6?
Best move
Nf3+0.23
By playing Nf3, you develop your kingside knight to its most natural square, immediately challenging the center and putting pressure on the e5 pawn. This move prepares for a quick…
- Games played
- 351K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.23
- Depth
- 22
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why Nf3 is the best move
Nf3! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 5 top moves — you found the most precise path in a flexible position!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing Nf3, you develop your kingside knight to its most natural square, immediately challenging the center and putting pressure on the e5 pawn. This move prepares for a quick O-O while keeping your central options open.
Multiple Valid Strategies
This position is a "strategic crossroads" where five different moves are objectively excellent. Your choice was the engine's favorite!
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | +0.23 | Classical: Direct pressure on e5 and rapid castling. |
| Nh3 | +0.18 | Hypermodern: Unusual development to keep the g2's diagonal open. |
| Nc3 | +0.14 | Solid: The human favorite (46%), focusing on queenside control. |
| d4 | +0.09 | Aggressive: Striking the center immediately to open lines. |
| d3 | +0.08 | Positional: A slow, solid approach building a sturdy "English" structure. |
Different paths, same destination:
While most humans instinctively play Nc3, your move Nf3 is technically superior because it forces Black to address the tension on e5. Whether you choose the sharp d4 or the flexible Nf3, White maintains a slight opening edge.
Your Continuation
After Nf3, the game likely proceeds:
Nc6 O-O Be7 Nc3 O-O
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That developing the kingside first is the most efficient way to complete your setup. While humans often prefer the safety of Nc3, you found the engine's top choice which is much rarer in practice!
📚 Takeaway: When multiple moves are "green," choose the one that fits your plan. Today, you chose the most accurate one!
What else gets played here
Move choices from 351K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | +0.14 | 248K | 56% | |
| d3 | +0.08 | 49K | 53% | |
| d4 | +0.09 | 27K | 57% | |
| Nf3Engine pick | +0.23 | 25K | 55% | |
| Nh3 | +0.18 | 1.7K | 57% |
The line
More positions in the Dutch Defense
- 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: Anglo-Dutch Defense?
Nf3 (+0.23). By playing Nf3, you develop your kingside knight to its most natural square, immediately challenging the center and putting pressure on the e5 pawn. This move prepares for a quick…
Why is Nf3 the best move here?
By playing Nf3, you develop your kingside knight to its most natural square, immediately challenging the center and putting pressure on the e5 pawn. This move prepares for a quick O-O while keeping your central options open.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 351K times in the opening book.