Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation

The Four Knights Variation of the King's English arises after 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6, with all four knights out. White now picks the structure with g3, e3 or e4, while Black's recurring idea is ...Bb4 followed by ...e4 to kick the f3 knight.

Moves
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6
ECO
A28
Engine
+0.10 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,444 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.g3 is the engine's choice and the most common move, a fianchetto aimed at d5.
  • 4.e4 sets pawns on c4 and e4 for a grip on d5.
  • 4.e3 prepares d4, a quiet approach that keeps the bishop on f1 flexible.
  • When ...e4 hits the f3 knight, Ng5 is a common reply that eyes the e4 pawn.

Black

  • ...Bb4 is Black's main move in every line, pinning the c3 knight.
  • ...Bxc3 gives White doubled c-pawns, and ...e4 then gains space.
  • ...d5 gives a Reversed Dragon if White fianchettoes.
  • Castle short and use ...Re8 to support the e4 pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

White's choices fix the structure. With g3 and Bg2, White aims at d5 and the long diagonal, and Black uses ...Bb4 and ...e4 to gain space. With e4, the d5 square becomes White's and d4 Black's. With e3, White prepares d4 to open the center. Black's ...Bb4 and ...e4 are the main sources of counterplay.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.10: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.10 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O e4
  2. +0.06 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 d6 6.Be2 Bc5
  3. +0.01 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.bxc3 e4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,444 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.0%.

under 120056.5%
1200–159955.1%
1600–199954.8%
2000 and up54.7%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, play ...Bb4 and get ready for ...e4. As White, choose a system you know; g3 lines are the most common, and e3 or e4 lines change the structure.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation starts 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. Its ECO code is A28.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.10 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,444 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.0%. A classical choice for both sides, with clear plans that suit players who like positional fights.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation?

All four knights are out, and White chooses the structure with g3, e3 or e4. Black's main idea is ...Bb4 and ...e4 to gain space.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is g3, with e4 and e3 close behind. 4.g3 prepares Bg2 to fight for d5 and the long diagonal.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.