Why Not Play the English?
Why isn't the English Opening (1.c4) more popular?
You know, the English is not just a system opening (c4/g3/Bg2/Nc3/Nf3/0-0, or whatever setup you prefer, in some order). Those who play 1.d4 as White often use this opening to transpose into some 1.d4 openings, while avoiding others.
However, many people believe that 1.c4 offers fewer chances for an advantage than 1.d4, 1.e4 or even 1.Nf3, because of the reply 1...e5, setting up the 'Reversed Sicilian'.
With my last tournament game of 2018, I will show why I don't think we should fear a Sicilian with an extra tempo. Sure, the engine gives 0.00 at a very high depth... but isn't that also true of the other major openings in the end?
What if this 4.e3/5.Qc2/6.bxc3 approach is a bit too slow for your taste? That's fine - there are many decent approaches for White in the English!
For instance, here is a sneak peek of one of my recent lesson notes on a top game, which I covered with one of my most promising young students!
In fact, Carlsen has used the English Opening successfully in many games recently. He usually favours the main line - fianchettoing with 4.g3:
Of course, Black has a range of playable systems against 4.g3 - to some extent, the wide range of choices (due to the strategic nature of the play) is also what gives Black a lot of room to go wrong. For instance, in the World Championship Match last year, Black did not fully equalise with a trendy new system I covered in ChessBase Magazine two years ago:
Finally, what if you just want to avoid theory and play chess? The English Opening is quite good for that, too. Although Kramnik lost this game, he had an opportunity to be better on move 19:
What should Kramnik have played instead?
That's right, 19.g3! would have been very strong, opening up the kingside files for a very strong attack against the Black king.
There are even other 4th moves for White that I haven't mentioned yet, such as 4.a3 (quite annoying for a ...Bb4 specialist - usually Black replies 4...g6 with a reversed Closed Sicilian), 4.Qc2 and 4.d4. So, you could say there is something for everybody in the English Opening!
What is your favourite 4th move for White after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6? Do you have a nice game to share in the English Opening? Let me know in the comments below!
