Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation

The Anglo-Lithuanian Variation is 1...Nc6, putting the queen's knight out before any pawn move. Black eyes e5 and d4 and keeps the e-pawn flexible, while White tries to show that the knight blocks Black's c-pawn and can be chased with d4 and d5.

Moves
1.c4 Nc6
ECO
A10
Engine
+0.50 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,054 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 2.d4 is the engine's choice. It takes the center at once and threatens d5, kicking the knight off c6.
  • Against ...e5, a fianchetto with Nc3, g3 and Bg2 gives a King's English where Black's knight is committed early.
  • 2.a3 and b4 grab queenside space, using the fact that Black's c-pawn cannot support ...c5.
  • Keep e4 in reserve; e3 and Nf3 are enough when Black plays ...e6 and ...d5.

Black

  • ...e5 is the natural follow-up, supporting the knight and taking central space.
  • Against 2.d4, the engine plays ...e6, ...Nf6 and ...d5 for a solid Queen's Gambit setup.
  • The bishop often goes to c5 after ...e5, as in the second engine line, eyeing f2 and d4.
  • Avoid lines where d4-d5 hits the knight and leaves it on a poor square like b8 or a5.

Plans and pawn structure

The knight on c6 decides the plans. Black cannot play ...c5, so the queenside belongs to White, who expands with a3, b4 and b5 when possible. Black usually plays ...e5 and builds kingside play with ...Nf6, ...Bc5 or ...g6. In the d4 lines, Black aims for ...e6 and ...d5 so that a d5 push is no longer possible. If White gets d5 in with tempo, Black loses time and space.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.50: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.50 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 d5
  2. +0.30 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bc5
  3. +0.21 2.a3 e5 3.e3 Nf6 4.b4 g6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,054 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.8%.

under 120054.7%
1200–159950.7%
1600–199957.4%
2000 and up58.6%

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

How to play against it

As White, take the center with 2.d4 or play Nc3, g3 and Bg2 against ...e5. Do not let Black get ...e5 and ...d5 in freely. As Black, know your setup against 2.d4: ...e6 and ...d5 stop d5 for good.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation?

The English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation starts 1.c4 Nc6. Its ECO code is A10.

Is the English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.50 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,054 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.8%. A surprise choice for Black players who want offbeat play, but it gives White an easy, central game with 2.d4.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation?

Black develops the queen's knight early and decides on ...e5 or ...e6 later. White tries to exploit the blocked c-pawn with d4 and d5 or queenside expansion with a3 and b4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with Nc3 and a3 close behind. 2.d4 claims the center and threatens d5 to chase the c6 knight.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.