Openings Other answers to 1.d4

Horwitz Defense (1...e6): English Defense, Kangaroo and Stats

1...e6 keeps Black’s options open: after 2.e4 it is a French, after 2.c4 d5 a Queen’s Gambit Declined, and after 2.c4 f5 a Dutch. The lines that stay independent are the English Defense with ...b6 and ...Bb7, and the Kangaroo with ...Bb4+.

For Black1.d4 e6Seen in 2.3% of rated games

Lichess rating

A40Horwitz Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 162k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
36%	57k	51%44%
18%	29k	51%45%
17%	27k	52%44%
13%	21k	50%47%
7%	11k	51%44%
6%	8,995	51%45%
1%	1,815	50%44%
0.8%	1,260	49%45%
0.7%	1,145	54%41%
0.6%	1,001	47%48%
0.2%	277	46%48%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

2.c4 is the most common move at 2000+; 2.e4 invites a French, and 2.Nf3 avoids the English Defense tricks.
Against the English Defense (2...b6), 3.Nc3 or 3.e4 takes the center; watch for ...Bb4 and ...Qh4 ideas.
Against the Kangaroo check 2...Bb4+, 3.Bd2 offers a trade and 3.Nc3 allows a Nimzo-like game.

Black

If you play the French, the Queen’s Gambit Declined or the Dutch, 1...e6 is a flexible move order.
The English Defense hits e4 with ...Bb7 and ...Bb4, and sometimes ...f5.
After 2.c4 Bb4+ 3.Bd2, trading with ...Bxd2+ leaves a solid, simple game.

Horwitz Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.d4 e6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	58k1.9%	51%45%	2.e423%
1200–1599	137k2.3%	51%46%	2.c425%
1600–1999	162k2.5%	51%45%	2.c436%
2000+	46k2.2%	50%44%	2.c444%
All	402k2.3%	51%45%	2.c430%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

Black lets White take the center, then hits e4 with ...Bb7 and ...Bb4. 5.Bd3 is the most common answer.
4,574 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 4% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Nc3 Bb4
Black trades the dark-squared bishop at once and follows with ...Nf6, ...d5 or ...f5.
264 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 9% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Bb4+ 3.Bd2 Bxd2+ 4.Qxd2
This is a Dutch Defense by move order; the Dutch has its own guide.
13k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 5% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5
This is a French Defense; the French has its own guide.
376k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5

At club level

Below 1200, 2.e4 and 2.Bf4 are the most common answers (about 23% each); at 2000+ 2.c4 leads at about 44%. The English Defense 2...b6 holds about even from 1200 up, but below 1200 White scores about 58% against it. The Kangaroo 2...Bb4+ scores about 56% for White overall.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

Related openings

Englund Gambit
1.d4 e5
286k games
Dutch Defense
1.d4 f5
89k games
Mikenas Defense (1...Nc6)
1.d4 Nc6
46k games