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English, Mikenas-Carls (A18)
1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4

Number of games in database: 2024
Years covered: 1893 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 46.8%
   Black wins 20.1%
   Draws 33.1%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Viktor Korchnoi  18 games
Levon Aronian  14 games
Hikaru Nakamura  13 games
Hikaru Nakamura  17 games
Eduardas Rozentalis  15 games
Levon Aronian  13 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Tartakower vs R Frentz, 1933
R Filguth vs A de la Garza, 1980
Benjamin vs N Gamboa, 1995
T Mantia vs T Trogdon, 1979
C H Alexander vs Fine, 1936
A A Murray vs F Hebert, 1949
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 page 1 of 81; games 1-25 of 2,024  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Bird vs N Jasnogrodsky  1-0431893Bird - JasnogrodskyA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
2. J F Heemskerk vs J de Soyres 1-050190331st DCA Congress, HilversumA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
3. C Carls vs A Brinckmann ½-½81192121. DSB KongressA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
4. C Carls vs H Johner 1-0281927London OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
5. W F Wertheim vs A Sacconi  ½-½231928The Hague OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
6. Y Porat vs H Mueller  ½-½191928The Hague OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
7. I Kan vs K Vygodchikov ½-½411929USSR ChampionshipA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
8. A Polyak vs A S Sergeev  1-0421930Moscow ChampionshipA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
9. K Opocensky vs K Skalicka  1-0271930Prague ChampionshipA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
10. C Carls vs K Berndtsson  1-0351930Hamburg OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
11. C Carls vs K Berndtsson  1-0351930Hamburg OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
12. J Gudmundsson vs Duchamp  1-0681930Hamburg OlympiadA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
13. A Nimzowitsch vs H Weenink ½-½351930LiegeA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
14. A Nimzowitsch vs P List 1-0401930FrankfurtA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
15. J Mieses vs G Thomas  0-1331930FrankfurtA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
16. C Carls vs O Antze  1-0271931Bremen Club ChampionshipA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
17. A Nimzowitsch vs W Michel 1-0401931Training Match vs MichelA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
18. A Nimzowitsch vs Kostic ½-½401931BledA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
19. A Nimzowitsch vs Flohr 1-0421931BledA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
20. Flohr vs G Thomas 1-0341931Hastings 1931/32A18 English, Mikenas-Carls
21. W Winter vs Milner-Barry  ½-½331932LondonA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
22. H Mueller vs G Rogmann  ½-½441933Siegen GERA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
23. Z Vecsey vs J Prchal  1-0251933PragueA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
24. J Stone vs Dr Partap Singh Bassalvi  1-0501933London Chess League Congress Major TournamentA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
25. G Bezruchko vs E Gize  1-0281933Team TournamentA18 English, Mikenas-Carls
 page 1 of 81; games 1-25 of 2,024  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-13-04  marcus13: It looks like that this opening ted to transpose whit queen indian defence.
Aug-22-04  fgh: Does somebody know about a good refutation of this line for black?
Sep-12-04  themindset: 3...c5
the sicilian variation, let white over-extend and attack on the flanks.
Dec-02-04  EnglishOpeningc4: ...c5? cant white just create a maroczy bind
Dec-03-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: EnglishOpeningc4, Black might enjoy playing against the Bind. This isn't the best place anyway. One line versus 3...c5 involves a pawn sac: 4.e5,Ng8; 5.Nf3!?,Nc6; 6.d4!?,cd4; 7.Nxd4,Nxe5; 8.Ndb5. Wild & wooly, study the theory long and hard before venturing upon this.
Dec-02-05  Chess Addict: I don't understand this opening. In an opening book that I just read, the following variation is seen:

1. c4 Nf6
2. Nc3 e6
3. e4 d5
4. e5 d4
5. exf6 dxc3
6. Qxf6 bxc3
7. d4 e5!
Evaluation: =
But why? What's a good reputation against this line?

Jan-06-06  Robin01: I played the following line (OTB) with the black pieces the other day and obtained a draw. 1. c4 Nf6
2. Nc3 e6
3. e4 d5
4. e5 d4
5. exf6 dxc3
6. fxg7 cxd2+
7. Bxd2 Bxg7
8. Qc2 Nc6
9. Nf3 Qe7
Jan-06-06  Robin01: I believe “obtained” is not the correct term here. The end result of my game was a draw. I was playing for a win. I can post more of the game if anyone is interested.
Jan-21-06  Chess Addict: What is the best refutation against the line above? Thanks.
Jan-21-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: Chess Addict

<Evaluation: =
But why? What's a good reputation against this line?>


click for larger view

(By the way, you meant to say 6.bxc3 Qxf6)

Looks about even to me. Let's pretend we were in a consultation/correspondence game and it's our move (White) right now. Since we have no pieces developed we probably should concentrate on candidate moves that facilitate that.

A few moves can be discarded immediately: 8.Bd3 8.Qc2 8.Bd2 and even 8.Qb3 are all senseless pawn giveaways. 8.dxe5? is suicide. 8.Nh3 is absurd. 8.Bb2 is very anti-positional, creating a 'big pawn' out of the bishop like that.

8.Nf3 looks a little fishy because of ...e4 but maybe it's plausible. I guess a critical variation would be how you deal with 8.Nf3 e4 9.Ne5 Bd6. Looks pretty comfy for Black.

8.Be2 is possible, but sure looks timid, and it's just delaying the Nf3/e4 situation.

8.Be3 is also possible but defensive. I tend to like it because it seems like a super solid move, and might allow 9.Qb3 in some lines.

In summary, if you have the White pieces and your top candidate moves on move 9 look timid and defensive, you probably have squandered the advantage of moving first.

Jan-21-06  AgentRgent: <Sneaky> You didn't consider 8. Qe2
Jan-21-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: Oh right, I actually thought of that move but I considered it so important I would save it for the end, then I ended up leaving it out. Andbody want to tackle it? Seems like f4 might be a threat in that position.
Jan-22-06  AgentRgent: Perhaps something like 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. d5 Ne7 10. Nf3 Ng6 11. Bg5 Qf5 12. h4 This looks pretty good for white, with h5 as a possible threat.


click for larger view

Jan-22-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Naturally the first thing I look at is a speculative pawn sac such as 8...Bd6?!; 9.f4,e4; 10.Qxe4+,Kd8.

I recommend you don't take my idea too seriously.

Incidentally, 8.Qf3,Qxf3; 9.Nxf3,exd4; 10.cxd4,Bb4+; 11.Bd2,Bxd2; 12.Kxd2 looks =.

Jan-22-06  Chess Addict: I have an idea.
How about Nf3 with the idea of Bg5 and the Queen will be tied to the defense of the threat Rd8#.
Dec-18-06  2021: According to NCO, it's called the Flohr-Mikenas system.
Apr-07-07  gambitfan: OPOD 07/04/2007
Mar-15-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Opening of the Day

English, Mikenas-Carls
1.c4 ♘f6 2.♘c3 e6 3.e4


click for larger view

White as holes on d3 and d4, while black can weaken their d6 square by playing 3...c5.

Oct-02-13  Kikoman: <Opening of the Day>

English, Mikenas-Carls
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4


click for larger view

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