English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation

This chess opening features an early knight development by Black, aiming for a flexible and solid position.

The opening is a branch of the English Opening, which begins with the move 1.c4, and is characterized by Black's response with 1...Nc6. This variation is named after the Lithuanian Grandmaster Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, who has employed it frequently in her games. The Anglo-Lithuanian Variation is a flexible and solid choice for Black, as it allows for various pawn structures and piece placements depending on White's subsequent moves.

In this opening, Black aims to control the central squares and potentially challenge White's pawn on c4 with moves like ...e5 or ...d5. The knight on c6 also supports the advance of the b-pawn to b5, which can help Black to expand on the queenside. Additionally, the knight can be repositioned to e7 or d4 in some lines, depending on the pawn structure and the position of White's pieces.

White has several options to respond to the Anglo-Lithuanian Variation, including playing d4 to challenge the center, g3 to fianchetto the bishop, or Nf3 to develop the knight. Each of these options can lead to different pawn structures and middlegame plans for both sides.

Overall, the English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation is a flexible and solid choice for Black, offering various options for pawn structures and piece placements. It is a relatively rare opening, which can be an advantage for Black players who are well-prepared and familiar with the resulting positions.