A23 English Opening: King’s English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
A23 holds two named lines, all under the name English Opening. It leaves A22 (English Opening: Carls-Bremen System) with 3...c6. That final move, by the c-pawn, covers b5 and d5 and opens a line for the queen on d8. Of all other reference positions, the board of A24 (King’s English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line) comes closest, four squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | c4 | e5 |
| 2 | Nc3 | Nf6 |
| 3 | g3 | c6 |
Lines filed under A23
Both share the start 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 and then split two ways at Black’s move 3.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| English Opening: King’s English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation | 3...c6 | 6 |
| English Opening: King’s English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation | 3...Bc5 4.Bg2 c6 | 8 |
English Opening: King’s English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
- 3...Bc5 The bishop leaves f8 for c5, opening a line for the rook on h8.
- 4.Bg2 The bishop leaves f1 for g2, guarding the rook on h1.
- 4...c6 The c-pawn advances to c6, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the queen on d8.
The road to A23
- 1.c4 … 2.Nc3three earlier stops: A10, A20, A21
- 2...Nf6A22 Two Knights Variation
- 3.g3A22 Carls-Bremen System
- 3...c6A23
The position after 3...c6
White has brought out the knight on c3; Black the knight on f6. White is to move and has 27 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| A29 | English Opening: King’s English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line | five squares: g1, f3, c6, c7, b8 |
| A16 | English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen’s Knight Variation | six squares: g2, g3, e5, c6, c7, e7 |
| A17 | English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Hedgehog System | six squares: g2, g3, e5, c6, e6, c7 |
| A21 | English Opening: King’s English Variation, Reversed Sicilian | six squares: g2, g3, c6, f6, c7, g8 |
| A25 | English Opening: King’s English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian | seven squares: g2, g3, c6, f6, c7, b8, g8 |
| A28 | English Opening: King’s English Variation, Four Knights Variation | seven squares: g1, g2, f3, g3, c6, c7, b8 |
| A36 | English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights, Fianchetto Variation | seven squares: c5, e5, c6, f6, e7, b8, g8 |