English Opening: Carls-Bremen System
The Carls-Bremen System is 3.g3 after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6, fianchettoing before Nf3. White keeps the f-pawn free and can develop the knight to e2, while Black chooses between ...Bb4, ...d5 and ...c6.
- Moves
- 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3
- ECO
- A22
- Engine
- +0.08 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,622 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 57.2%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Bg2 controls d5 and the long diagonal. The bishop is White's key piece.
- Without Nf3, White can play e4 and Ne2, as in the top engine line, or f4 later.
- Against ...d5, take and develop with Nf3 and Bg2; it is a Dragon Sicilian with an extra tempo.
- Against ...Bb4 and ...Bxc3, recapture with the b-pawn and use the doubled pawns to control d4.
Black
- ...Bb4 is the engine's top choice. It aims to trade on c3 and double White's pawns.
- ...d5 is the Reversed Dragon. After cxd5 Nxd5, the knight goes to b6.
- ...c6 prepares ...d5 with pawn support, the Keres Variation.
- Castle short and use ...c6 and ...d5 when White's center is not ready.
Plans and pawn structure
If Black doubles White's pawns with ...Bxc3, White gets a solid center with c3 and e4 and plays Ne2 and d3. Black plays ...c6 and ...d5 to open the center. In the Reversed Dragon, White's bishop on g2 aims at the queenside, and White plays a3 and b4. Black builds with ...Nb6, ...Be7 and short castling. The g2-bishop is White's main asset.
Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.08: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.08 3...Bb4 4.Bg2 Bxc3 5.bxc3 O-O 6.e4
- +0.20 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bg2
- +0.21 3...c6 4.d4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Na6 6.Nf3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,622 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 57.2%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation3...c6 · 906 games
- King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Reversed Dragon3...d5 · 854 games
- King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Smyslov System3...Bb4 · 764 games
- King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line3...g6 · rare
- King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with .. d6, Be73...Nc6 · rare
- King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, Delayed .. Nc63...Bb4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, choose a setup: ...Bb4 and ...Bxc3 for structure, ...d5 for open play, or ...c6 for a solid center. As White, know the plans with e4 and Ne2 against ...Bb4.
Questions
What are the moves of the English Opening: Carls-Bremen System?
The English Opening: Carls-Bremen System starts 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3. Its ECO code is A22.
Is the English Opening: Carls-Bremen System good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.08 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,622 lichess games from our sample, White scored 57.2%. A flexible choice for White players who like the long diagonal, with good results in our sample.
What is the main idea of the English Opening: Carls-Bremen System?
White fianchettoes before Nf3, keeping options with e4 and Ne2. Black chooses between ...Bb4, ...d5 and ...c6, each leading to a different structure.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Bb4, with d5 and c6 close behind. 3...Bb4 aims to trade on c3 and double White's pawns.
Related lines
- English Opening
- King's English Variation
- Symmetrical Variation
- Anglo-Indian Defense
- Agincourt Defense
- Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
- How to beat the English Openingguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.