The English Opening: the Great Snake Zzz
English Opening: Great Snake Variation
English Opening
The English Opening is a flank opening where White advances their c-pawn two squares instead of the d- or e-pawns. The English is a highly transpositional opening, meaning that in many cases the game will reach the same position that arises from other openings and through different move orders. The English Opening is most suitable for intermediate and advanced players and demands more understanding of positional concepts.
A respectable opening, the English has been adopted by several elite players. Among them are former world champions GMs Mikhail Botvinnik, Garry Kasparov, and even the 1.e4-devotee Bobby Fischer.
Main Variations Of The English Opening
As mentioned, the English is a highly transpositional opening. For this reason, it has few independent variations. However, that doesn't mean that it is light in theory. Due to its positional nature and the many transpositions that can occur, White must know what they're doing to employ this opening successfully. Below you can see the main variations in the English Opening.
Reversed Sicilian
Reversed Sicilian games start after Black plays the move ...e5, either after 1.c4 e5 or after delaying the e-pawn thrust for a few moves. As the name suggests, White will play a Sicilian-like setup with an extra tempo.
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1. c4 e5
Four Knights' Variation
The Four Knights Variation happens after the moves 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6. Black's setup is flexible and allows for counterattacks. They will usually exchange their dark-squared bishop for White's c3-knight or play against White's Sicilian Dragon setup down a tempo.
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1. c4 e52. c3 f63. f3 c6
Bremen System
The Bremen System occurs after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3. White accelerates the development of their light-squared bishop, trying to increase their control over the central light-squares. They can also use this variation to limit Black's options and later transpose to other lines of the Four Knights'.
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1. c4 e52. c3 f63. g3
Botvinnik System
The Botvinnik System is a development setup that White can adopt when playing the English. As a system, this development scheme works against many different moves Black chooses to play in the opening.
Its basic setup involves building a pawn triangle on the c4, d3, and e4-squares, controlling the d5 square, and tying up Black's pieces. White also places a knight on c3, fianchettoes a bishop on g2, and castles kingside. Move order is not as important in this system as long as White reaches the final setup.
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1. c4 f62. c3 g63. e4 g74. g3 O-O5. g2 c56. ge2 c67. d3 d68. O-O
The Botvinnik System is easy to learn but still has some sting. White can go for a kingside mating attack, playing in the center with a powerful knight on d5, or even play on the queenside. On the other hand, Black can get a good game if they can exploit the holes left by White's pawn play, especially in the d4-square.
Closed Variation
The Closed Variation starts with the moves 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 when Black plays as White would play a Closed Sicilian. White usually dominates the queenside while Black gets counterplay on the kingside. The way players develop their kingside knight impacts the rest of the game significantly.
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1. c4 e52. c3 c6
Symmetrical English
The Symmetrical English is the umbrella of openings that arise after 1.c4 c5. From there, the game can transpose into numerous variations of the Sicilian Defense or other openings.
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1. c4 c5
Symmetrical Four Knights'
The Symmetrical, Four Knights' Variation starts after 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6. In this variation, one of the players will usually push their d-pawn forward two squares, and players will battle for the control of the central squares.
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1. c4 c52. f3 f63. c3 c6
Ultra-Symmetrical Line
The Ultra-Symmetrical line starts with the moves 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7. Both players fianchetto their kingside bishop to discourage their opponents from pushing the d-pawn. This variation usually leads to slow, maneuvering games.
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1. c4 c52. c3 c63. g3 g64. g2 g7
Hedgehog Defense
The Hedgehog Defense is a solid way for Black to deal with the English. It starts after the moves 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7, when Black accepts a cramped position to later counterattack at the right moment. Black usually exchanges their c-pawn for White's d-pawn, lines up a queen and rook on the semi-open c-file, and develops their pieces behind their pawns. Black's play revolves around making use of their pieces' dynamic potential.
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1. c4 c52. f3 f63. c3 e64. g3 b65. g2 b76. O-O e7
The Great Snake Variation: is 1. c4, 2. G3, 3. Bg2, 4. Nc3. 5.e3. 6. Ne2. 7. o-o
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