English opening
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The English Opening is the opening where White begins 1.c4.
A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, anywhere from one of the two most successful to the fourth most successful of White's twenty possible first moves. White begins the fight for the center by staking a claim to the d5 square from the wing, in hypermodern style. Although many lines of the English have a distinct character, the opening is often used as a transpositional device in much the same way as 1.Nf3 - to avoid such highly-regarded responses to 1.d4 as the Nimzo-Indian and Grünfeld defences, and is considered reliable and flexible.
The English derives its name from the English (unofficial) world champion, Howard Staunton, who played it during his 1843 match with Saint-Amant and London 1851, the first international tournament. It did not inspire Staunton's contemporaries, and only caught on in the twentieth century. It is now recognised as a solid opening that may be used to reach both classical and hypermodern positions. Mikhail Botvinnik, Tigran Petrosian, Anatoly Karpov, and Garry Kasparov all employed it during their world championship matches. Bobby Fischer created a stir when he switched to it from his hitherto almost universal 1.e4 late in his career, employing it against Lev Polugaevsky and Oscar Panno at the Palma de MallorcaInterzonal in 1970 and in his 1972 world championship match against Boris Spassky.
Transpositional potential
1...Nf6
White can play 2.d4, thereby transposing to an Indian defence, which is usually reached by 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4, after which Black may play 2...e6 or black may play 2...g6. Also white can play 2.Nf3. Then black may play 2...e6 for English. This can lead to Queen's Gambit Declined, Queen's Indian, or Symmetrical Variation. Or black may play 2...g6 for English. This can lead to King's Indian Defense, King's Indian, Orthodox or English. Also white can play 2.Nc3. Then black may play 2...e5 for English. This can lead to English, Old Indian orUkrainian Variation. Or black may play 2...e6 for English. This can lead to Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Queen's Gambit Declined or Symmetrical Variation.
1...e5
White can play 2.Nc3. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 (given above). Or Black may play 2...Nc6 for English. Also white can play 2.g3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 for English. Or black may play 2...Nc6 for English.
1...e6
White can play 2.d4, which is usually reached by 1.d4 e6 2. c4 so see Queen's Pawn Game. Then black may play 2...Nf6, or black may play 2...d5. Also white can play 2.Nf3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 (given above). Or black may play 2...d5 for English. This can lead to Queen's Gambit Declined or English. Also white can play 2.Nc3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 (given above). Or black may play 2...d5 for Queen's Gambit Declined.
1...c5
White can play 2.Nf3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 for Symmetrical Variation. This can lead to Queen's Pawn Game, Symmetrical Variation, Benoni Formation. Or black may play 2...Nc6 for Réti Opening. Also white can play 2.Nc3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 for Symmetrical Variation. Or black may play 2...Nc6 for English. This can lead to Symmetrical Variation, Reti Opening or English.
1...g6
White can play 2.d4, which is usually reached by 1.d4 g6 2.c4 so see Queen's Pawn Game. Then black may play 2...Nf6, or black may play 2...Bg7. Also white can play 2.Nc3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 for English. This can lead to King's Indian Defense, Grünfeld Defense or English. Or black may play 2...Bg7 for English. This can lead to King's Indian Defense, Modern Defense, Averbakh System, or English. Also white can play 2.Nf3. Then black may play 2...Nf6 (given above). Or black may play 2...c5 for Réti Opening. This can lead to Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto.
1...c6
White can play 2.e4, which is usually reached by 1.e4 c6 2.c4. Then black may play 2...d5, or black may play 2...e5. Also white can play 2.d4. Then black may play 2...d5 for Slav Defense. This can lead to Queen's Gambit Declined. Or black may play 2...Nf6 for Slav Defense.
If White plays an early d4, the game will usually transpose into either the Queen's Gambit or an Indian defence. For example, after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 d5 the game has transposed into the Grünfeld Defence, usually reached by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5.
Note, however, that White can also play 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4, making it impossible for Black to reach a Grünfeld, instead more or less forcing him into lines of the King's Indian Defence with 3...d6. Black also cannot force a Grünfeld with 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5, since White can deviate with 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3, a line played several times by Mikhail Botvinnik in 1958, in his final match for the world championship with Vasily Smyslov.
Instead of playing an early d4, White can also play Nf3 and fianchetto the king'sbishop (g3 and Bg2), transposing into a Reti Opening.
Also, after 1.c4 c6, white can transpose into the Polish Opening, Outflank Variation, by playing 2.b4!?, which can be used as a surprise weapon if Black does not know very much about the Polish Opening.
The many different transpositional possibilities available to White make the English a slippery opening for Black to defend against, and make it necessary for him to consider carefully what move order to employ. For instance, if Black would like to play a Queen's Gambit Declined, the most accurate move order to do so is 1...e6 2.d4 d5. (Of course, White can again play the Reti instead with 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3.) If Black plays instead 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 e6, White can avoid the QGD by playing 3.e4.
Common responses
Opening theoreticians who write on the English Opening break the opening down into three broad categories, generally determined by Black, who selects one of three types of defensive setups. These include the Symmetrical Defense (classified A30s in ECO), which is 1...c5, and is so named because both of the c-pawns are advanced two squares, maintaining symmetry. Note that Black can reach the Symmetrical Defense through many move orders by playing a delayed ...c5, and in fact often does. For example, 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 (or 2.Nf3) c5 is a Symmetrical Defense even though Black played ...c5 on move two.
Another broad category of defence Black can choose against the English Opening is called the Reverse(d) Sicilian (classified A20s in ECO), which is introduced by the response 1...e5. Note again, that Black can delay playing ...e5, for example 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 whereupon even though ...e5 has been delayed, once it is played the defence is classified as a Reverse Sicilian.
The third broad category are the non-...e5 and non-...c5 responses, classified A10s in ECO. Most often these defences consist of ...Nf6, ...e6, and ...d5 or ...Bb4 systemic responses by Black, or a Slav-like system consisting of ...c6 and ...d5, a direct King's Indian Defense setup with ...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7, ...0-0, after which ...c5 and ...e5 are eschewed, or 1...f5, which usually transposes to a Dutch Defense once White plays d4. All irregular responses such as 1...b6 and 1...g5 are also lumped into this third broad category.
1...Nf6 The most common response to 1.c4, often played in hopes of getting an Indian Defence. However, more than half the time after playing this first move, Black subsequently elects to transpose into either a Symmetrical Defense with ...c5, or a Reversed Sicilian with 1...e5.
1...e5 White has black's position in the Sicilian but with a tempo up. This is often called the reverse-Sicilian. Bruce Leverett, writing the English chapter in MCO14, stated, "It is natural to treat the English as a Sicilian reversed, but the results are often surprising--main lines in the Sicilian Defense correspond to obscure side variations in the English, and vice versa."
1...e6 (Can lead to a Queen's Gambit Declined after 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4, but White often prefers 2.Nf3).
1...c5 (the Symmetrical Variation) including attempts to try the Hedgehog system.
1...f5 leads to a Dutch Defense when White follows up with d4.
1...g6 may lead to a Modern Defense or after d6 and Nf6 to the King's Indian Defence, or stay within English lines.
1...c6 (Can lead to a Slav Defence after 2.d4 d5, but White will often prefer a Caro-Kann Defence with 2.e4 d5, or a Reti Opening after 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3).
1...b6 The English Defence. This setup involves the fianchetto of the queenside bishop and 2...e6. Often Black will defer the move ....Nf6, choosing to attack the center with ...f5 and/or ...Qh4. The English grandmasters Anthony Miles and Jonathan Speelman have successfully used this opening.
1...g5 An eccentric response known as Myers' Defense after Hugh Myers' advocacy of it in print and actual play. It is intended as an improved Grob's Attack; after 2.d4, Black will pressurise d4 with moves such as ...Bg7, ...c5, and ...Qb6. According to Nunn's Chess Openings, White obtains a small advantage after 2.d4 Bg7 (offering a Grob-like gambit: 3.Bxg5 c5) 3.Nc3 h6 4.e4. Myers recommended 3...c5 (instead of 3...h6); in response, Joel Benjamin advocates 4.dxc5!
Further reading
- Kallai, Gabor; Ribli, Zoltan (1993). Winning With the English. Henry Holt.
- Hansen, Carsten (2001). The Symmetrical English. Gambit.
- Pritchett, Craig (2008). Play the English. Everyman Chess.
