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English Opening

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MrTacticalChess10

I got this position in one of my games. I am an 1.e4 player, but I play queen's gambit as well as English. This arose after c4 e5 Nc3 Nc6 g3 Bb4!? d3 d5 cxd5 Qxd5 Nf3 Qa5 Bd2. Can anyone tell me the opening system name and a possible improvement?

I_Am_Second
GreenCastleBlock

4.Nd5 would also make a lot of sense since Black has a N on c6 depriving him of a ..c6 push.

It's more common for Black to play ..Bb4 lines after 2...Nf6.  2...Nc6 is usually connected with the Closed (..g6) or Reversed Grand Prix (..f5) formations.

MrTacticalChess10

Thanks. Any good books on the English I could read. As I said before, I am primarily 1.e4 player, but I could use the english as a Surprise weapon.

I_Am_Second
MrTacticalChess10 wrote:

Thanks. Any good books on the English I could read. As I said before, I am primarily 1.e4 player, but I could use the english as a Surprise weapon.

The English Move By Move by Cyrus Lakdawala is very well done.

springyboard

As White, I play only the English. 4 Bg2 is much better than 4 d3. If Black really wants to lose the Bishop pair to weaken your Q-side pawns, you cannot stop him. For example, 4 Qb3 Nd4 5 Qxb4 Nc2+. After 4 Bg2 Bxc3 5 bxc3 I would use the b-file and prepare a future d2-d4.

MrTacticalChess10

Thanks, and sorry to keep asking, but is there any book on the queen's gambit- a good one