Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: Agincourt Defense

The Agincourt Defense is 1...e6 against the English, a quiet move that prepares ...d5. White decides whether to steer into Queen's Gambit structures with d4 or keep a Catalan-style setup, and Black waits to choose between ...d5, ...f5 and ...Bb4 lines.

Moves
1.c4 e6
ECO
A13
Engine
+0.30 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
10,972 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play d4 to reach a Queen's Gambit Declined. The engine likes 2.Nf3 or 2.d4 with that idea.
  • A fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 aims at d5 and b7, the classic Catalan approach.
  • After 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 dxc4, the queen check 4.Qa4+ wins the c4 pawn back quickly.
  • With Nc3 and Bg5, White builds pressure on the f6 knight and the d5 point.

Black

  • Push ...d5 next. With the e6 pawn already in place, the center is solid and the f8-bishop is free.
  • ...Bb4 is ready if White plays Nc3 and d4, giving Nimzo-Indian positions.
  • ...dxc4 can be a good grab when White has not prepared to win the pawn back fast.
  • ...f5 turns the game into a Dutch with an early ...e6, avoiding the main Queen's Gambit lines.

Plans and pawn structure

Most games become Queen's Gambit or Catalan structures. With d4, Nf3 and g3, White keeps pressure on d5 and plans cxd5 or a central push with e4 later. Black castles short behind ...Be7 or ...Bb4 and fights back with ...c5 or ...dxc4 followed by ...c5. Since 1...e6 commits so little, both sides should know which d4 system they want before move three.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.30: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.30 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.g3 Be7
  2. +0.30 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.Qa4+ Nc6
  3. +0.27 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

10,972 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.9%.

under 120050.0%
1200–159954.0%
1600–199952.3%
2000 and up53.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Mikenas-Carls Variation2.Nc3 · 968 games
  • Neo-Catalan2.Nf3 · 230 games
  • Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation2.Nf3 · rare
  • Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Variation2.Nc3 · rare
  • Hartlaub Gambit Accepted2.d4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, choose your structure on purpose. If you dislike Queen's Gambit theory, the Nf3, g3 and b3 setup keeps it an English. If you skip d4, watch for ...d4 grabbing space. As Black, do not drift; decide on ...d5 or ...f5 before White sets up comfortably.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3; 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5; 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.e3 O-O.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Agincourt Defense?

The English Opening: Agincourt Defense starts 1.c4 e6. Its ECO code is A13.

Is the English Opening: Agincourt Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.30 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 10,972 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.9%. A practical choice for Black players who already play the Queen's Gambit Declined and want to reach it from the English.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Agincourt Defense?

Black prepares ...d5 with a solid pawn on e6. The game usually transposes to a Queen's Gambit Declined, a Catalan or a Nimzo-Indian, depending on White's next moves.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with d4 and Nc3 close behind. 2.Nf3 keeps options open and prepares d4 with a Queen's Gambit structure.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.