According to Lichess (September 2026, N = 664,006 games rated 900 to 1700), you score 52.9% with the English Opening, 1.. Your pawn eyes d5 from the side without occupying the center yet. The plan strong players repeat most is putting your light-squared bishop on g2, on the long diagonal. This page explains their line: 2. 3..
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
128 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
At your level, after 1., your opponent plays in 40 of every 100 games; and come up in 11 each, and and in 9. Online players rated 2200 and up prefer , 26 in 100, to , 22. Against , 2. is the most popular reply at both levels: 54 in 100. The split comes after . At your level the top choice is 3., in 36 of every 100 games, while 3. shows up in only 15; strong players pick 3. in 38 of every 100. After 3., comes in 51 of every 100 games at your level and 74 among strong players.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.2% | 53.0% | 22.1% | 23.0% | |
| 10.9% | 54.2% | no data | no data | |
| 10.8% | 51.8% | 26.0% | 22.2% | |
| 9.4% | 53.4% | 11.7% | 9.1% | |
| 9.0% | 52.2% | 16.0% | 33.6% | |
| 5.1% | 51.3% | 8.4% | 5.1% | |
| no data | no data | 5.7% | 4.0% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54.1% | 52.5% | 54.1% | 59.1% | |
| 13.9% | 51.5% | 3.8% | 2.0% | |
| 13.1% | 52.5% | 25.2% | 14.9% | |
| 7.8% | 50.4% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 3.6% | 50.0% | no data | no data | |
| 3.4% | 51.9% | 14.0% | 24.0% | |
| no data | no data | 1.1% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33.8% | 51.4% | 36.8% | 20.9% | |
| 22.7% | 53.2% | 24.5% | 20.0% | |
| 13.3% | 52.9% | 10.6% | 40.0% | |
| 8.3% | 53.2% | 6.4% | 2.2% | |
| 6.0% | 54.4% | no data | no data | |
| 5.7% | 51.8% | 5.0% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 11.2% | 13.1% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 2.2% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36.4% | 52.4% | 33.3% | 37.3% | |
| 18.1% | 52.2% | 16.6% | 17.9% | |
| 14.5% | 53.5% | 38.3% | 34.3% | |
| 12.6% | 51.0% | 8.8% | 10.4% | |
| 8.6% | 44.9% | 1.1% | no data | |
| 6.5% | 53.8% | 1.0% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50.8% | 51.3% | 74.0% | 100.0% | |
| 44.6% | 56.3% | 21.4% | no data | |
| 4.5% | 48.8% | 2.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.8% | no data |
1. watches d5 from the side, and the plan strong players repeat most adds a fianchetto to that pressure: the g-pawn to g3 and your light-squared bishop to g2, on the long diagonal through e4, d5 and b7. Online players rated 2200 and up put that bishop on g2 in 65 of every 100 games in this opening, and on e2 in only 9.
The strong-player line shows when that plan changes. After 2. 3. 4. 5., you build a three-pawn center on c4, d4 and e4. With your pawn on e4, a bishop on g2 would run straight into it, so the bishop goes to e2 instead.
Each move sets up the next. 2. comes before the center pawns because it covers d5 and e4: when you play 3., the f6 knight attacks that pawn, but your c3 knight defends it. 3. also threatens to push on to e5 and kick the f6 knight, which is why covers e5. 4. completes the center, and that pawn covers e5 as well. Your opponent answers with a fianchetto of their own, : the bishop aims at your center down the long diagonal, although for now its own knight on f6 blocks the way. Finally, 5. covers g4, the square the f6 knight could jump to, and clears f1 so you can castle once the g1 knight is out.
The result is a clear trade-off. You have the space and three pawns bearing on d5 and e5; your opponent has a bishop on g7 waiting for the diagonal to open.
At your level this path is rare. After , the top choice is 3., in 36 of every 100 games, which goes back to the bishop-on-g2 plan and which strong players also play in 33 of every 100. If you choose 3., finish the job: after , only 43 in 100 players at your level follow up with 4., against 73 in 100 strong players.
Plan played in 62% of the 2,541 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
Online, 2200+: 65.3% of 95,784. Over the board, 2300+: 62.4% of 2,541; the alternative, : 8.9% and 7.8%; the alternative, : 4.2% and 3.0%; the alternative, : 1.4% and 1.8%; the alternative, : 1.4% and 2.3%.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 95,510 | 25.9% | |
| 24,765 | 54.2% | |
| 13,406 | 36.4% | |
| 4,910 | 38.3% | |
| 1,868 | 74.4% | |
| 1,533 | 73.1% | |
| 3,317 | 98.4% | |
| 17,619 | 26.2% |
After , 2. lets the d5 pawn advance: hits your knight and drives it back, and after 3. your opponent has two center pawns and more space. 9 in 100 players at your level choose it. You score 50 out of 100, against 56 with 2., which trades your wing pawn for their center pawn.
9 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.0%; scores 56.1%.
After , 2. pushes a pawn that nothing defends. opens the f8 bishop's diagonal toward c5; 3. defends the pawn, but adds a second attacker and, after 4., wins it. 3 in 100 players choose it. You score 48 out of 100, against 56 with 2..
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 2.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.6%; scores 56.1%.
After , 2. declines to take on d5, and your opponent props up the center pawn with : if you trade on d5 later, they recapture with a pawn. Then 3. 4. , center intact. 10 in 100 choose it. You score 53 out of 100, against 56 with 2.: at your level it rarely gets punished.
10 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.7%; scores 56.1%.
After 2. , your opponent is preparing to push to d5 with the c6 pawn's support, and 3. does nothing to stop it. After 4. 5. 6. the queens come off early. 1 in 3 players choose it, and it hardly gets punished: you score 54 out of 100, against 55 with 3..
33 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 53.8%; scores 55.1%.
After 2. , 3. puts your pawns on c4 and e4, and no pawn of yours can cover d4. aims at d4, and after 4. 5. you fight for it with pieces. 13 in 100 choose it. You score 52 out of 100, against 55 with 3.: at your level it rarely gets punished.
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.0%; scores 55.0%.
After 2. , 3. gives up e3, the square that would cover d4 and close the c5 bishop's diagonal to f2. After 4. 5. 6. you reach the same position as after 3. against . 10 in 100 choose it. You score 49 out of 100, against 56 with 3., which covers d4.
10 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 49.0%; scores 56.3%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 358,106 | ||
| Not castled | 78,153 | |
| Not castled | 68,861 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 68,580 |
| 41,303 | ||
| 22,299 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1,977 | ||
| Not castled | 134 | |
| Not castled | 129 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 101 |
| 79 | ||
| Not castled | 44 |
1. · 246,048 amateur games · 661 over the board
is the most common reply at your level; against it you score 53 out of 100.
1. · 70,867 amateur games · 527 over the board
mirrors your move and watches d4 from the side; you score 53 out of 100.
1. · 67,793 amateur games
puts their center pawn within reach of your c4 pawn; the strongest reply is 2..
1. · 55,592 amateur games · 424 over the board
is strong online players' favorite reply, and the line this page explains.
1. · 52,991 amateur games · 670 over the board
prepares a supported push to d5; it is strong players' favorite over the board.
1. 2. · 39,126 amateur games
After 1. , 2. leaves d4 with no pawn to cover it; you score 50 out of 100.
1. · 28,163 amateur games · 25 over the board
prepares your opponent's bishop on g7, on the other long diagonal.
1. · 24,889 amateur games · 17 over the board
prepares a push to d5 backed by the c6 pawn; you score 51 out of 100.
1. 2. 3. · 10,557 amateur games · 6 over the board
Against 2. , 3. sends your bishop to g2; you score 56 out of 100.
1. · 8,312 amateur games · 3 over the board
covers d4 and e5 with the knight before any pawn moves; you score 54 out of 100.
1. · 6,991 amateur games · 12 over the board
watches e4 with a pawn and holds back your e-pawn; you score 53 out of 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 5,715 amateur games · 25 over the board
With all four knights out, 4. adds a second pawn eyeing d5; you score 52 out of 100.
1. 2. · 3,060 amateur games · 3 over the board
After 2., challenges your c4 pawn in the center; you score 53.
1. 2. 3. · A18
2,622 amateur games · White's score: 55.1%
1. · A10
1,747 amateur games · White's score: 56.5%
1. · A10
973 amateur games · White's score: 57.2%
1. 2. 3. · A19
703 amateur games · White's score: 50.6%
1. 2. 3. · A13
439 amateur games · White's score: 55.8%
1. 2. · A10
406 amateur games · White's score: 49.4%
1. 2. · A10
357 amateur games · White's score: 50.7%
1. 2. · A10
258 amateur games · White's score: 54.5%
1. 2. · A30
173 amateur games · White's score: 40.5%
1. 2. 3. · A22
109 amateur games · White's score: 47.7%
1. 2. · A20
66 amateur games · White's score: 43.2%
1. 2. 3. · A10
31 amateur games · White's score: 27.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A22
23 amateur games · White's score: 78.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A13
21 amateur games · White's score: 31.0%
1. 2. · A10
21 amateur games · White's score: 54.8%
1. 2. · A10
14 amateur games · White's score: 57.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A13
3 amateur games · White's score: 16.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A10
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. · A10
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · A25
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · A30
It means starting the game with 1.. Your pawn watches d5 from the side instead of occupying the center, and the plan strong players repeat most is pushing the g-pawn to g3 and putting your light-squared bishop on g2, on the long diagonal. At your level it shows up in 2 of every 100 games, and you score 53 out of 100 with it.
They depend on how your opponent answers 1.. At your level, leads to the King's English Variation in 40 of every 100 games. Next come the Anglo-Scandinavian Defense with and the Anglo-Indian Defense with , 11 each, then the Symmetrical Variation with and the Agincourt Defense with , 9 each.
The numbers say it holds up from the start: you score 52 out of 100 between 900 and 1100, and no band up to 1700 drops below that. The plan fits in one idea, the bishop on g2. Watch your second move: against , take with 2.; 2. drops you from 56 to 50 out of 100.