DEAR  MEMBERS,  CAN  ANYONE WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH  THE ENGLISH OPENING,  PLEASE  GIVE  ME YOUR  OPINION OF THE BEST  VARIATION OR LINES?

THANK  YOU  AS  ALWAYS              TONY     antne003

I gave up playing the English about 10 years ago...hated the symmetrical lines with 1)...c5.  The only time i really liked it was when they played 1)...e5 for reverse Sicilian.

I don't play it as White. If my opponent plays it when I'm Black, I'll play ... e5 for the reverse Sicilian.

Recently I watched our club master (FM) answering it with 1. ... f5 in a tournament game. He got into a winning position, even if he lost by missing a check and dropping a piece in the endgame.

For Black, there are several alternatives.  He can play a King's Indian set-up, a Dutch idea with early ...f5, there's nothing wrong with Reverse Sicilian with 1 ...e5 as long as he doesn't overreach, or the Symmetrical 1 ...c5. 

The Symmetrical is the normal path to the "Hedgehog" style defenses, where Black plays ...Nf6, ...e6, ...d6, ...c5, ...b6, and usually ...a6 as well.

Which you choose depends mainly on personal taste.  All can give Black reasonable chances for equality or counterplay, but you will do best with the lines you feel most comfortable playing.

As White, you would need to be prepared for all these defensive strategies, of course.

MEMBERS,  THANK YOU  ALL FOR YOUR  COMMENTS, I'M NOT  GOOD, BUT  I'LL KEEP  TRYING

THANKS  FOR  YOUR  HELP                                      TONY  antne003

Join the English Opening Lovers and you'll find out about the best lines and much more importantly: You might even start to understand these lines. Btw, the discussion in our vote chess games is priceless.