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English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System

459K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.2%

45%60%
Floor53.1%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 53.3%.

Measured over 459K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.2 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 459K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
459K
Best context
59.1% at 2500+ Blitz
Worst context
51.7% at 1800-1999 Bullet
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
95.8%
Draws
4.2%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 52.3% at 0-999, 60.6% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.0% expected score (15 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 52.5% expected score (2,460 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (5,098 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 54.6% expected score (2,778 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (26 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.1% expected score (33 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.3% expected score (6,107 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (10,044 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 53.9% expected score (4,227 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 56.8% expected score (102 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 55.0% expected score (49 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.0% expected score (11,625 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (17,960 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 55.8% expected score (7,473 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 60.5% expected score (275 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 56.6% expected score (75 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (16,667 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (28,516 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 54.5% expected score (10,290 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 58.2% expected score (581 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 53.8% expected score (51 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 52.4% expected score (22,697 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.9% expected score (35,761 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (12,268 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (858 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 68.4% expected score (42 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (30,070 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (45,615 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (10,933 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 58.1% expected score (689 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 60.8% expected score (45 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.9% expected score (33,707 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.7% expected score (47,930 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (6,787 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.0% expected score (227 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.6% expected score (33,950 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.8% expected score (33,655 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (2,942 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 69.6% expected score (52 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.9% expected score (12,581 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.1% expected score (3,640 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 68.0% expected score (79 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (1 games)

Related Openings

Parent
English Opening
50.4%
Variations (5)
English Opening: King's English Variation
51.0%
English Opening: Agincourt Defense
50.2%
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
52.0%
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Sicilian
52.2%
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation
50.5%
Analyze English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System scores 53.2% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 53.1% and 53.3% — from 459K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
459K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate?

Playing the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System, White wins 51.1%, draws 4.2% and loses 44.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.2%. It rests on 459K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System perform best?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 56.7% (16K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 53.5% in Blitz (228K games) against 54.4% in Rapid (58K games).

How sharp is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System has a sharpness score of 95.8 (very decisive), meaning 95.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 51.7%, draws 3.5% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 10K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 51.9%, draws 3.0% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 21K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 52.2%, draws 3.1% and loses 44.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.7%. It rests on 37K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 51.6%, draws 3.3% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.3%. It rests on 56K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.6% and loses 45.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.9%. It rests on 72K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 50.4%, draws 4.1% and loses 45.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.4%. It rests on 87K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 50.1%, draws 4.8% and loses 45.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 89K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 51.3%, draws 5.8% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.2%. It rests on 71K Lichess games, which average 38 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 53.5%, draws 6.2% and loses 40.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.7%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, White wins 57.1%, draws 3.0% and loses 39.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.6%. It rests on 318 Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 50.9%, draws 3.1% and loses 46.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.5%. It rests on 170K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 51.0%, draws 4.9% and loses 44.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 228K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 51.9%, draws 4.9% and loses 43.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 58K Lichess games.

What is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 54.5%, draws 5.6% and loses 39.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.3%. It rests on 2.8K Lichess games.

Is the English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System a good opening?

The English Opening: King's English Variation, Three Knights System is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 51.1% of its games and loses 44.7%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.