English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation
The King's Knight Variation is 2.Nf3 after 1.c4 Nf6, a flexible move that keeps White's d-pawn options open. The knight stops ...e5 for now, and Black chooses between ...e6, ...c5, ...c6 or ...g6 to set the structure.
- Moves
- 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3
- ECO
- A15
- Engine
- +0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 906 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Nf3 covers e5. A careless ...e5 just loses a pawn to Nxe5.
- Against ...e6, the engine plays d4 and Nc3, reaching Queen's Gambit lines where e4 later gains space.
- Against ...c5, a g3 and Bg2 fianchetto pressures the long diagonal and d5.
- Against ...c6 and ...d5, Bg5 and Bh4 pin the f6 knight in a Semi-Slav style.
Black
- ...e6 is the engine's top choice. After d4 and Nc3, ...c5 strikes back at the center.
- ...c5 gives a symmetrical English, where ...d5 and ...Nc6 fight for the center.
- ...c6 prepares ...d5 and a Slav-style setup.
- ...g6 leads to the King's Indian Formation, the most common reply in our sample.
Plans and pawn structure
Because White has not committed the d-pawn, each Black reply leads to a different family. After ...e6, d4 and Nc3 bring Queen's Gambit structures where White aims for e4. After ...c5, the fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 and the d4 push define the game. After ...c6, White pins with Bg5 and Black often answers ...h6. Black's choice decides the pawn structure.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.21: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.21 2...e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5
- +0.24 2...c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2
- +0.31 2...c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 e6 5.Bg5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
906 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation2...g6 · 823 games
- Anglo-Indian Defense, Old Indian Formation2...d6 · rare
- Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation2...b6 · rare
- Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation2...d5 · rare
- Symmetrical Variation, Duchamp Variation2...g6 · rare
- Anglo-Slav Variation, Capablanca Variation2...c6 · rare
- Romanishin Gambit2...e6 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, pick a setup you know: ...e6, ...c5, ...c6 or ...g6 all work. Avoid an immediate ...e5 since the knight on f3 takes it. As White, be ready to transpose into d4 openings if Black's choice calls for it.
Questions
What are the moves of the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation?
The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation starts 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3. Its ECO code is A15.
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 906 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.3%. A flexible choice for White players who enjoy transpositions and positional play, but it requires a broad repertoire.
What is the main idea of the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation?
White develops flexibly and controls e5, waiting for Black to choose a structure. The game can become a Queen's Gambit, a symmetrical English, a Slav or a King's Indian.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is e6, with c5 and c6 close behind. 2...e6 prepares ...d5 and keeps Queen's Gambit and Nimzo-Indian options.
Related lines
- English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense
- Queen's Knight Variation
- Hedgehog System
- King's Indian Formation
- How to beat the English Openingguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.