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English Opening

Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense

A14positionalsolid

  1. 1.c4e6
  2. 2.Nf3d5
  3. 3.g3Nf6
  4. 4.Bg2Be7
  5. 5.O-Oc5
  6. 6.cxd5Nxd5
  7. 7.Nc3Nc6
284 games48%43%

A Neo-Catalan Declined line of the English Opening in which Black plays ...c5 and recaptures on d5 with the knight, opening the c- and d-files.

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About the Keres Defense

The Keres Defense is a branch of the Neo-Catalan Declined. Black answers 5. O-O with 5...c5, and after 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nc6 the center is opened at once. Play revolves around the half-open c- and d-files and the pressure of the g2 bishop on the long diagonal. 8. d4 is the most common reply and scores well for White. 8. d3 and 8. Nxd5 are the main alternatives. The engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations