The English Opening
Last updated on Thu, 12/13/2007 at 9:26am.
This Chess opening involves the first move c4, (called The English Opening because a group of English players in around the 1890's often played it, including Howard Staunton), it is played as one of the main opening choices for white- an alternative to d4(Queen's Pawn Opening) or e4(King's Pawn Opening).
Most positions in this opening are positional in nature rather than the more tactical nature of other openings because white is preparing an attack on the flank, and often fianchettos his bishop with moves such as g3 and bg2 in order to attack a black central pawn mass.
An early d5 is the most critical reply by Black otherwise he can lose control of the d5 square and thus be on the defensive.
The main lines are the Symmetrical English- 1 c4 c5, 2 Nf3 Nc6, 3 Nc3 Nf6, 4 g3 g6 etc. or the English Four Knights- 1 c4 e5, 2 Nc3 Nf6, 3 Nf3 Nc6, 4 g3 when like i said d5 is blacks best reply.
Watch out if your a nimzo-indian player and like to play e6, Nf6 and Bb4 as black because the Mikenas-Flohr Variation of 1 c4 e6, 2 Nc3 Nf6, 3 e4 has quite a sting to it. Other lines for white include The Botvinnick System with the kings knight on e2 and an early fianchetto eg 1 c4 e5, 2 g3 Nf6, 3 Bg2 Nc6, 4 Nc3 g6, 5 e4 Bg7, 6 Nge2 with the posibility of d4 or f4 or even d3 and f4. Another posible line this time for Black is 1 c4 e5, 2 g3 nf6 and 3 Bg2 c6 of The Keres System.
Traps for white include an early b6 when white's bishop is already on g2, white can sacrifice in such a position eg see diagram
, and an early attack on the f3 knight by 1.c4 e5, 2.Nc3 Nf6, 3.Nf3 e4?! this is called
The English Three Knights and a move such as Ng5 shows the uncorrectness of Blacks strategy.
A trap for Black leading to mate is a move order such as The Korchnoi Variation which is 1.c4 e5, 2.Nc3 Nf6, 3.Nf3 Nc6, 4.g3 Nd4!?, 5.Nxe5?! Qe7, 6.Nf3?? Nxf3+mate.
Other main lines not mentioned are the Kramnik-Shirov Counter Attack, Grand Prix Attack, Rubeinstein Variation and Keres-Parma Variation.