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English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation: what should White play?
Best move
d4+0.00
By playing d4, you claim your stake in the center and open lines for the c1. This move challenges Black's g7 and prepares a solid foundation for your development.
- Games played
- 680K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.00
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why d4 is the best move
d4! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 5 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing d4, you claim your stake in the center and open lines for the c1. This move challenges Black's g7 and prepares a solid foundation for your development.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | +0.00 | Classical: Direct central control and space. |
| Nf3 | -0.01 | Flexible: Develops the kingside while keeping options open. |
| Be2 | -0.03 | Solid: A quiet, prophylactic move preparing O-O. |
| Nge2 | -0.07 | Hypermodern: Supports d4 without blocking the f-pawn. |
| g3 | -0.10 | Fianchetto: Contesting the long diagonal with g2. |
Different paths, same destination: This is a rich opening position where your choice reflects your personality. While d4 is the most popular and direct approach, moves like Nge2 or g3 lead to more maneuvering, positional battles. All five choices maintain the balance perfectly!
Your Continuation
After d4:
d5 Bd2 c5 dxc5 O-O
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That establishing a presence on d4 is the most principled way to meet Black's King's Indian setup. You aren't afraid of the tension and are ready to fight for the central squares c5 and e5.
📚 Takeaway: In positions with multiple good moves, trust your style—whether you prefer the direct control of d4 or the subtle development of Be2, both are master-level choices!
What else gets played here
Move choices from 680K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| d4Engine pick | +0.00 | 339K | 48% | |
| Nf3 | -0.01 | 182K | 48% | |
| Nge2 | -0.07 | 89K | 50% | |
| g3 | -0.10 | 42K | 51% | |
| Be2 | -0.03 | 28K | 49% |
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: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Knight Variation?
d4 (+0.00). By playing d4, you claim your stake in the center and open lines for the c1. This move challenges Black's g7 and prepares a solid foundation for your development.
Why is d4 the best move here?
By playing d4, you claim your stake in the center and open lines for the c1. This move challenges Black's g7 and prepares a solid foundation for your development.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 680K times in the opening book.