About this opening
Rat Defense: English Rat is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings,
classified under code A41. ECO group A (A00–A99)
covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached
after 4 half-moves from the
starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5.
The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 d6, 2.c4 e5. From this position exactly one named continuation is recorded in the encyclopaedia.