English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A29), reached after 7 half-moves: 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3.

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4…Bc5 4 lines
- A29 with .. d6 +3
4…d5 2 lines
- A29 with Bc5
- A29 with Nb6
4…O-O 1 line
- A29 Delayed .. Nc6

About this opening

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A29. ECO group A (A00–A99) covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached after 7 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the King's English Variation → Four Knights Variation → Fianchetto Line line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, transitioned via 4.g3.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.c4 e5, 2.Nc3 Nf6, 3.Nf3 Nc6, 4.g3. From this position 3 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.