Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian

The Reversed Sicilian is 2.Nc3 against 1...e5, the knight move that guards d5 before Black can claim it. Black answers with ...Nf6, ...Nc6 or ...Bb4, and the whole opening revolves around whether Black can ever play ...d5 or remove the knight that stops it.

Moves
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3
ECO
A21
Engine
+0.11 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
8,274 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • The c3 knight covers d5, so an early ...d5 lets White take with cxd5 and keep a grip on the center.
  • Fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 to add a second piece aimed at d5.
  • Against 2...Nc6 3.g3 Bb4, the engine jumps 4.Nd5 at the bishop rather than allowing doubled pawns.
  • Against 2...Bb4, the engine allows 3.g3 Bxc3 and recaptures toward the center with the b-pawn.

Black

  • 2...Nf6 is the engine's top choice and the most common reply, heading for Four Knights lines after Nf3 and ...Nc6.
  • 2...Bb4 goes straight for the d5 guard: trading on c3 removes White's best control of that square.
  • 2...Nc6 keeps ...g6 and ...f5 setups available, a Closed Sicilian with colors reversed.
  • If Nd5 hits your bishop on b4, ...a5 stops a3 and b4 from gaining time, and the bishop drops back to c5.

Plans and pawn structure

The d5 square is the theme. White adds g3, Bg2 and often Nf3 so that ...d5 never comes with ease, then expands with a3 and b4. Black either plays around it, with ...Nf6, ...Nc6, ...Bb4 and ...e4 to cramp the f3 knight, or trades bishop for knight on c3 to break White's hold. When Black takes on c3, White's doubled c-pawns control d4 and b4 but are slow.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.11: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.11 2...Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2
  2. +0.18 2...Bb4 3.g3 Bxc3 4.bxc3 Nc6 5.d3
  3. +0.27 2...Nc6 3.g3 Bb4 4.Nd5 a5 5.a3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

8,274 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.6%.

under 120054.9%
1200–159954.0%
1600–199955.0%
2000 and up54.9%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, pick one plan and stick to it: the ...Nf6 and ...Nc6 Four Knights setup, or ...Bb4 with ...Bxc3. Do not push ...d5 while two white pieces watch that square. As White, keep the c3 knight on its post unless a jump to d5 wins time against a bishop.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian starts 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3. Its ECO code is A21.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.11 at depth 20, which is level. In 8,274 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.6%. A main line for both sides; it rewards knowing the Four Knights and Closed Sicilian structures that it leads to.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian?

White's knight on c3 guards d5 in a Sicilian with colors reversed. Black either develops around it with ...Nf6 and ...Nc6 or trades it off with ...Bb4 and ...Bxc3.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with Bb4 and Nc6 close behind. 2...Nf6 develops toward e4 and d5 and keeps ...Nc6 and ...Bb4 in hand.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.