King's Pawn Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 · C20–C99
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 4
The e5 pawn is the whole argument
- 1.
- 2.
The idea
Both sides stake a claim in the centre with the king's pawn and develop a knight toward it. Almost every classical attacking opening grows out of this position.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
What White wants
- Develop quickly and castle, then choose between d4 and Bc4 setups
- Use the extra space on the kingside once the centre is settled
- Keep the tension on e4/e5 until Black commits
What Black wants
- Mirror in the centre and hold e5 with ...d6 or ...Nf6
- Contest the e-file and look for ...d5 as the freeing break
- Trade pieces to blunt White's slight initiative
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The e5 pawn is the whole argument
The e5 pawn gives Black a foothold in the centre, but White can put pressure on it with pieces and d4. Defending with ...d6 supports the pawn; developing with ...Nf6 instead counterattacks e4. White must balance pressure on e5 with the safety of their own centre.
Common mistake
Treating the position as one fixed setup. The plans after ...Nf6, ...Bc5 and the Petroff each demand a different move order, and playing the same few moves anyway lets Black choose the structure that suits them.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bqkbnr/pppp1ppp/2n5/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 2 3
Analyze this positionTraps in this opening
Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.
All opening traps