Chess Openings - English Opening

English Opening

The English Opening begins with 1. c4. The pawn attacks d5 from the flank, and White keeps the choice of pawn structure open. The game can become a Reversed Sicilian after 1... e5, a symmetrical fight after 1... c5, or can transpose to Queen's Gambit, Catalan, King's Indian or Reti positions. The opening is named after the English master Howard Staunton, who used it in the nineteenth century.

The English is a flexible, strategic opening. White often plays g3 and ♗g2 to pressure the long diagonal and the d5-square, develops the knights to c3 and f3, and decides on the central structure later with d4, e4 or d3. Black can fight for the center at once with 1... e5, copy White with 1... c5, or answer the flank pawn with 1... ♞f6 and keep the options open.

Because of transpositions, the move order is important. Many English positions can also arise from 1. ♘f3 or 1. g3, and many Black systems can be reached by different routes. The sections below follow Black's first reply, starting with 1... e5, then 1... c5, then the Anglo-Indian systems with 1... ♞f6, and finally the rarer replies.

Basic ideas

The first move controls d5, and White's aim is to keep that control while developing without committing the center. In the Reversed Sicilian White plays a Sicilian with colors reversed and an extra tempo: the pawn on c4 acts like Black's c5-pawn, and the bishop on g2 plays the role of the Dragon bishop. In symmetrical lines White tries to gain a small edge from the move that has already been made.

This is the Botvinnik System. White builds the pawn chain c4, d3 and e4, a bind that controls d5 and f5, and develops with ♘ge2, O-O and ♗e3. The plan is to prepare f4 or the break d4 at the right moment, and to use the control of d5 for a knight outpost. Black develops symmetrically, plays ... f5 to fight for the center, and keeps the pieces flexible.

This is the Hedgehog structure. Black's pawns stand on a6, b6, d6 and e6, and the pieces stay behind them, compact and flexible. White has more space and an advantage in the center, but Black waits and prepares the pawn breaks ... b5 and ... d5. If White's pieces are not placed to meet them, one of these breaks can equalize at once. The structure is typical for many English lines, and it appears again in the sections on the symmetrical variation.

Reversed Sicilian 1... e5

The move 1... e5 takes the center and invites White to play a Sicilian with an extra tempo. White usually continues with 2. ♘c3, followed by g3 and ♗g2 or by ♘f3, and the main variations are named after the pieces that Black develops.

White has other second moves. The move 2. ♘f3 e4, the Nimzowitsch-Flohr Variation, drives the knight to d4, and 2. g3 leads to similar positions with the knight on f3. The move 2. ♘c3 is the main choice because it keeps the most options: after 2... ♞f6 Black has the Four Knights and Two Knights systems, after 2... ♞c6 the closed systems, and after 2... ♝b4 the Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack. The replies 2... d6, with the Smyslov Defense 3. ♘f3 ♝g4 and the Keres Defense 3. g3 c6, are less common.

Four Knights Variation 2. ♘c3 ♞f6 3. ♘f3 ♞c6

The Four Knights Variation is the main line of the Reversed Sicilian. Both sides develop the knights and fight for the center with the same moves. White has four principal fourth moves: 4. g3, the Fianchetto Line, 4. d3, the Flexible Line, 4. e3, the Quiet Line, and 4. d4, which opens the center. The immediate 4. e4, the Nimzowitsch Variation, is rarer, and 4. a3, the Korchnoi Line, is a waiting move.

In the Fianchetto Line Black can strike in the center at once with 4... d5. After 5. cxd5 ♞xd5 6. ♗g2 ♞b6 the knight retreats to keep the pawn structure intact, and White develops with O-O, d3 and ♗e3, attacking the knight on b6. The position is roughly equal: Black's pieces are well placed, and White has the long diagonal and the more flexible structure.

The pin 4... ♝b4 is a common alternative. After 5. ♗g2 O-O 6. O-O e4 7. ♘g5 ♝xc3 8. bxc3 ♜e8 9. f3 exf3 10. ♘xf3 Black has doubled White's pawns, but White has the bishop pair and open lines, and the position is equal. The knight on g5 attacks the pawn on e4, so Black must decide whether to hold it or to exchange it, and White's compensation comes from the pressure on the long diagonal.

Black can develop the bishop to c5 instead, which pressures f2 and avoids the pin. After 5. d3 d6 6. ♗g2 a6 7. O-O ♝e6 the bishop on e6 contests d5 and the structure is compact. The position is a little better for White, who has more space and a free development.

The central 4. d4 opens the game. After 4... exd4 5. ♘xd4 ♝b4 6. ♗g5 h6 7. ♗h4 ♝xc3+ 8. bxc3 ♛e7 White has the bishop pair and Black's pieces are active, and the position is equal. This is a Scotch Four Knights with the colors reversed and an extra tempo for White. The alternative 4... e4, the Bradley Beach Variation, is sharper.

The Flexible Line 4. d3 keeps the pawn structure compact and avoids early commitments. After 4... d5 5. cxd5 ♞xd5 6. g3 ♝e7 7. ♗g2 ♞b6 8. O-O O-O the position is roughly equal, and White can choose between ♗e3, a3 and ♖b1. White's setup is a reversed Dragon with an extra tempo, which gives a small initiative but few concrete threats.

Two Knights Variation 2. ♘c3 ♞f6 3. g3

In the Two Knights Variation White plays 3. g3 and delays ♘f3. The move is the Carls-Bremen System, and it keeps the knight and the f-pawn flexible. Black has three principal replies: 3... d5, 3... ♝b4 and 3... g6.

After 3... d5 4. cxd5 ♞xd5 5. ♗g2 ♞b6 the knight retreats to b6, in a structure known as the Reversed Dragon. White develops with ♘f3, O-O, d3 and ♗e3, and Black plays ... ♝e7, ... O-O and the break ... f5. The position is roughly balanced, with a small edge for White.

The Smyslov System 3... ♝b4 develops the bishop and aims for the push ... e4. After 4. ♗g2 O-O 5. ♘f3 ♜e8 6. O-O e4 7. ♘d4 ♞c6 8. ♘xc6 dxc6 9. d3 exd3 10. ♕xd3 ♝xc3 11. bxc3 the pawn structure is damaged on both sides. The position is equal, and White has the bishop pair as compensation for the doubled pawns.

In the Fianchetto Line 3... g6 Black copies White's setup. The structure is symmetrical, and the game depends on who wins the fight for the center. After 4. ♗g2 ♝g7 5. d3 O-O 6. ♘f3 ♞c6 7. O-O d6 both sides have completed development, and White has a small edge by virtue of the move. The typical plans are ♖b1 and b4 for White, and ... ♜b8 and ... b5 for Black.

White can also try 3. f4, the Mazedonisch System, with an aggressive plan in the style of the King's Gambit, and 3. ♘f3 with the Two Knights lines that lead to the Four Knights Variation after 3... ♞c6.

Closed System 2. ♘c3 ♞c6

The move 2... ♞c6 develops the knight without committing the other pieces. White usually plays 3. g3 g6 4. ♗g2 ♝g7, and the position is the Reversed Closed Sicilian. White chooses between a slow build-up with d3 and e4, the Botvinnik System, and the active 5. ♖b1, the Hungarian Attack.

In the Full Symmetry Line Black copies White's moves. After 5. d3 d6 6. ♘f3 f5 7. O-O ♞f6 8. ♖b1 O-O both sides have the same setup, and White's extra move is the only difference. Both sides prepare the queenside break, with ♖b1 and b4 for White and ... ♜b8 and ... b5 for Black. The position is roughly equal, and the game is a long maneuvering battle.

The Hungarian Attack 5. ♖b1 prepares b4 at once. After 5... a5 6. a3 d6 7. b4 axb4 8. axb4 ♞ge7 the a-file is open and White has gained space on the queenside. The position is balanced, and White's next moves are b5 to attack the knight and ♘f3 with castling. The continuation 5. e3, the Bremen-Hort Variation, keeps the bishop flexible and prepares a different pawn structure.

Other second moves

The move 2... ♝b4, the Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack, pins the knight at once and leads to sharp play after 3. ♘d5 ♝e7. The replies 2... d6 and 2... ♞c6 with ... d6 are solid, and 3. ♘f3 ♞c6 reaches the Three Knights System, where White can choose between the fianchetto and an immediate e3 or d4. White also has the sidelines 2. e3, the Kahiko-Hula Gambit with 3. f4, and 2. g3, which aims for a flexible Reversed Sicilian without ♘c3.

Symmetrical Variation 1... c5

With 1... c5 Black copies White's move and fights for the d4-square. The symmetry offers few immediate chances, and White's extra move gives a small edge in most lines. The game turns on how each side uses the d5- and d4-squares and on the central breaks: for White d4 or b4, for Black ... d5 or ... b5.

White's most popular continuations are 2. ♘f3 and 2. ♘c3. After 2. ♘f3 ♞f6 3. ♘c3 ♞c6 4. g3 g6 5. ♗g2 ♝g7 the structure is fully symmetrical, and the game is decided by small improvements. White can also play the Ultra-Symmetrical setup 2. g3 g6 3. ♗g2 ♝g7 4. ♘c3 ♞c6, or try gambits such as the Wing Gambit 2. b4 and the Napolitano Gambit 2. ♘f3 ♞f6 3. b4.

Fianchetto lines 4. g3

The Mecking Variation opens the center with 7. d4. After 7... cxd4 8. ♘xd4 ♞xd4 9. ♕xd4 d6 White has more space and a centralized queen, but Black's position is solid and can be improved with ... ♝e6. White has a small edge, and the game offers little risk for either side.

The quiet 7. d3 prepares queenside expansion. After 7... d6 8. a3 ♜b8 9. ♖b1 a6 10. b4 cxb4 11. axb4 b5 both sides have used the typical plan with a3, ♖b1 and b4 against ... a6, ... ♜b8 and ... b5. White's pawn on c4 can become a target after ... bxc4, but the bishop on g2 and the knight on c3 are ready to react. The position is roughly equal.

The Double Fianchetto plays 7. b3 and 8. ♗b2, putting the bishop on the long diagonal and aiming at g7. White prepares d4 or ♖b1 and b4. After 7... d6 8. ♗b2 ♝d7 both sides have developed in the same way, and the position is balanced with a small advantage for White. The plan is slow and patient, and the first side to commit in the center usually gives the opponent a target.

The Keres-Parma System 4... e6 prepares ... d5. After 5. ♗g2 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 ♝e7 8. O-O O-O Black has the hanging pawns on c5 and d5, and the pieces are active. White attacks them by exchanging on c5 and by putting pressure on d5, while Black uses them to gain space and aims for the break ... c4 or ... d4. White has a small edge.

Botvinnik System 2. ♘c3 ♞c6 3. g3 g6 4. ♗g2 ♝g7 5. e4

In the Botvinnik System White occupies the center with e4, d3 and ♘ge2, in the same structure as in the closed lines of the Reversed Sicilian. After 5... d6 6. ♘ge2 e5 7. O-O ♞ge7 8. d3 O-O 9. ♗e3 the position is roughly equal. Black has played ... e5 to hold the d4-square, and White's plan is f4 or ♕d2 and ♖ad1. A common pawn structure is the one with c4 and e4 against c5 and e5, in which both knights try to reach d4 and d5.

Anti-Benoni lines 2. ♘f3 ♞f6 3. d4

White can open the center at once with d4, which leads to Sicilian structures with the extra move for White. After 4. d4 ♞c6 5. g3 cxd4 6. ♘xd4 ♛b6 Black attacks the knight on d4, in the Geller Variation. The position is equal, with active pieces for both sides, and the knight on e5 hits c4 and f3.

Hedgehog Defense

The Hedgehog is the most characteristic system for Black against the symmetrical English. Black avoids the pawn break ... d5 for the moment and builds a structure with pawns on a6, b6, d6 and e6, in a compact formation from which any piece can be switched to the weak squares.

After 7. d4 cxd4 8. ♕xd4 d6 White has space and the queen centralized, and Black plays ... a6, ... ♞bd7, ... ♛c7 and ... ♜c8. The usual White setup is ♗b2, ♖ac1 and ♕d2, and the critical breaks are ... d5 and ... b5. If White allows one of them, Black gets easy equality, and White usually plays ♘d5 or e4 to prevent them. The position is balanced, with a small initiative for White if Black waits too long.

Anglo-Indian Defense 1... ♞f6

The move 1... ♞f6 develops a piece, controls e4 and d5, and leaves the choice of structure open. Black can follow with ... e6 for the Nimzo-English and the Hedgehog, with ... d5 for the Anglo-Grunfeld, with ... g6 for a King's Indian setup or with ... b6 for a Queen's Indian setup.

White's usual choices are 2. ♘c3, which keeps the most options, and 2. ♘f3, which avoids the Anglo-Grunfeld and some pins. The move 2. ♘c3 is the Queen's Knight Variation, and 2. ♘f3 the King's Knight Variation. Rare second moves include 2. e4, the Achilles-Omega Gambit, and 2. b4, the English Orangutan.

Nimzo-English 2. ♘c3 e6 3. ♘f3 ♝b4

The pin 3... ♝b4 creates a Nimzo-Indian structure with c4 played. White answers 4. ♕c2, which avoids doubled pawns, and after 4... O-O 5. a3 ♝xc3 6. ♕xc3 has the bishop pair and a space advantage. Black plays ... b6 and ... ♝b7 to contest e4 and the long diagonal. After 7. b4 ♝b7 8. ♗b2 d6 9. e3 ♞bd7 the position is balanced, with a small edge for White thanks to the bishop pair and the space on the queenside. White can also try the aggressive 4. g4, the Zvjaginsev-Krasenkow Attack.

Black can play 4... c5 to prepare ... ♞c6. After 5. a3 ♝xc3 6. ♕xc3 ♞c6 7. e3 O-O 8. ♗e2 d6 9. O-O Black has a solid pawn structure and White has the bishop pair and the queen on c3. The position is roughly equal, and the plan for both sides is to improve the pieces and to prepare a central break: d4 for White, ... e5 for Black.

Mikenas-Carls Variation 3. e4

In the Mikenas-Carls Variation White occupies the center with e4 at once. After 3... c5 4. ♘f3 ♞c6 5. d4 cxd4 6. ♘xd4 ♝b4 7. ♘xc6 bxc6 8. ♗d3 the position is a Sicilian with the extra move for White, and the pawn structure is open. Black has doubled pawns on the c-file, and the game is balanced with a small edge for White. The reply 3... d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 ♛xf6 7. d4 gives White a large pawn center, and it is a sharper alternative.

Anglo-Grunfeld 2. ♘c3 d5

With 2... d5 Black strikes in the center at once. White usually captures with 3. cxd5 ♞xd5, and Black's knight becomes the target of White's development. White chooses between the fianchetto 4. g3, the immediate 4. ♘f3 and the aggressive 4. e4.

This is the Korchnoi Variation. After 4. ♘f3 g6 5. g3 ♝g7 6. ♗g2 e5 Black occupies the center with the pawn on e5 and the knight on d5, and White continues with ♘xd5 and d3 or with O-O. The position is roughly equal, with a small edge for White, who has the flexible development.

The fianchetto 4. g3 avoids the pin of the knight and leads to slow play. After 4... g6 5. ♗g2 ♞b6 6. d3 ♝g7 7. ♘f3 O-O 8. O-O ♞c6 Black has retreated the knight to b6 and aims at ... e5 or ... ♝f5, while White keeps the bishop on the long diagonal and prepares a4 and ♗e3. The position is balanced, and the game is a maneuvering fight. The immediate 4. e4 ♞b6 5. ♘f3 ♞c6 6. d4 gives White a big center and is more ambitious.

Formations after 2. ♘f3

With 2. ♘f3 White avoids the Anglo-Grunfeld and keeps the choice between the King's Indian, Queen's Indian and Slav-like setups open. Black has several formations, and the structures often resemble those of the Reti Opening and the Catalan.

In the King's Indian Formation Black plays ... g6, ... ♝g7 and ... c5. After 7. d3 d6 8. ♖b1 a6 9. a3 ♜b8 10. b4 cxb4 11. axb4 b5, the Duchamp Variation, both sides fight on the queenside. White's break b4 opens the a-file, Black responds with ... b5, and the position is balanced.

The Queen's Indian Formation 2... b6 leads to positions with the bishops on b7 and g2 facing each other. After 5. O-O ♝e7 6. ♘c3 O-O 7. d4 ♞e4 8. ♕c2 ♞xc3 9. ♕xc3 c5 Black has exchanged the knight and breaks with ... c5. The position is roughly equal, and White has a small initiative due to the extra space and the pressure on c5.

In the Slav Formation Black plays ... c6 and ... d5, a Slav setup with the fianchetto. After 5. b3 ♝g7 6. ♗b2 O-O 7. O-O ♝f5 Black develops the bishop outside the pawn chain and White has a space edge, with the pressure on the long diagonal. The position is solid for both sides, with a small advantage for White.

Other formations are the Old Indian Formation 2... d6, which aims for a King's Indian structure with ... e5, the Scandinavian Formation 2... d5, and the Romanishin Variation 2... e6 3. g3 a6 4. ♗g2 b5, a gambit that tries to open the queenside at once. The double fianchetto 2... g6 3. g3 b6 4. ♗g2 ♝b7 puts both of Black's bishops on long diagonals.

Other first replies

Black has several other ways to meet 1. c4. Most of them aim for a structure that is known from other openings, and the English then becomes a flexible route to that structure.

Agincourt Defense 1... e6

The move 1... e6 keeps the options open and prepares ... d5. After 2. ♘f3 d5 3. g3 ♞f6 4. ♗g2 the position is a Neo-Catalan, in which White has the fianchetto and Black has the Queen's Gambit Declined structure.

In the Neo-Catalan Declined White plays b3 and ♗b2, pressing on the long diagonal against the center, and Black plays ... c5 and ... ♞c6 to build a solid structure. The position is roughly equal, and the plans are the same as in the Catalan: White aims for cxd5 or d4 at the right moment, and Black tries to resolve the tension with ... dxc4 or ... d4. The line 3... c5, the Catalan Defense, and 3... c6, the Kurajica Defense, are other ways to play the position.

Anglo-Slav 1... c6

The move 1... c6 prepares ... d5 with a Slav structure. White can play 2. ♘f3 d5 3. g3 for a fianchetto, or 3. e3 for a quiet setup, the Gurevich System.

After 3. g3 ♞f6 4. ♗g2 ♝f5 5. O-O e6 6. d3 ♝e7 7. b3 O-O both sides have a solid setup. Black has developed the bishop outside the pawn chain and White has played d3 and b3 to keep the position flexible. The position is balanced. White's aim is a slow build-up with ♗b2 and ♘bd2, while Black's plan is ... ♞bd7 and ... h6.

The Gurevich System 3. e3 transposes to a Queen's Gambit setup with the pawn on e3 and ♗d3. After 5. d4 ♞bd7 6. ♗d3 ♝d6 7. O-O O-O the structure is a Semi-Slav or Slav, and White has a small edge in space. The plan is e4 for White and ... e5 for Black.

Great Snake Variation 1... g6

The move 1... g6 prepares to fianchetto the king's bishop and to meet the center with ... e5 later. White can play 2. e4 to build the center, with the Adorjan Defense 2... e5 as a sharp alternative, or 2. ♘c3 with a flexible setup.

After 5. e4 d6 6. ♘ge2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d3 a6 Black has built a King's Indian structure and White has the Botvinnik bind. The position is balanced, with a small edge for White thanks to the extra space. White's plan is ♗e3 and ♕d2 with f4 or d4, and Black's plan is ... b5 and ... ♝e6.

Anglo-Dutch Defense 1... f5

The move 1... f5 takes the e4-square and prepares a Dutch setup. White can answer with a quiet fianchetto, with e4 as a gambit (the Hickmann Gambit 2. e4), or with 2. g4, the Wade Gambit. Black has no pressing problems after the quiet lines, but White keeps a small edge.

After 2. ♘c3 ♞f6 3. g3 g6 4. ♗g2 ♝g7 5. d3 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. ♘ge2 c6 Black has a Leningrad Dutch structure and White has the Botvinnik bind with e4. The position is balanced, and White has the advantage in space. The plan is f4 or ♗e3 for White, and ... e5 or ... ♛b6 for Black.

Anglo-Scandinavian Defense 1... d5

The move 1... d5 challenges the center at once. White captures with 2. cxd5, and Black can recapture with the queen or with the knight.

After 2... ♞f6 3. g3 ♞xd5 4. ♗g2 ♞b6 5. ♘c3 ♞c6 6. d3 e5 Black has regained the pawn and has a solid position. White has the bishop pair on the long diagonal and the more flexible setup, and the position is balanced. The recapture 2... ♛xd5 3. ♘c3 wins time for White, and after 3... ♛a5, the Malvinas Variation, White develops with e4 and ♘f3. The gambit 2... e6, the Lohn Gambit, is a sharper way to play for the center.

Rare first replies

Several other replies exist but are rarely played. The Jaenisch Gambit 1... b5 and the Myers Defense 1... g5 give up material or structure for quick counterplay, and the Anglo-Lithuanian Variation 1... ♞c6 prepares ... e5 or ... ♞f6 without committing the pawns. All of them are surprise weapons, and White can reach a comfortable position by developing normally and exploiting the weaknesses.

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