C4 English

For some reason, chess programs like chessmaster like to use the english opening. I looked at many databases and found that although it is the least popular first move for white, it has the most win percentage. So why use king's pawn?

It's by no means the least popular first move for White. In fact, it's often listed as the third or fourth most popular move, since such stalwarts as 1.h4 and 1.a4 are beneath almost all consideration. Ranking above it are 1.e4 (the King's Pawn), 1.d4 (the Queen's Pawn), and 1.Nf3, which I used to call the Reti since my tutor told me to, though I have no accurate name for it now. On some lists it will exchange places with 1.Nf3, though I always thought of it as the 4th most popular.

As for reasons? The first is the type of game. The English Opening, being different from the King's Pawn, will naturally lead to different kinds of positions. Some people might be able to grit their teeth and sit through the strategic manuevering of the Ultra-Symmetrical Variation of the English (1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7). Some might strive to unbalance the situation right away in the King's Pawn with the King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4).

That isn't to say that the English Opening is a game where manuevering is king and there is little else; even with the same -style-, one might not know or like the positions that the English gives them, but enjoy the peaceful development or useful transposition that the Four Knights Game gives them rather than go straight for the jugular with a gambit or razor-sharp Traxler.

Since I've spat out paragraphs and paragraphs (and had still more written, but deleted them since I misread the initial post), I'll just end it with this: don't believe all of the statistics you see.

So are you saying you know people or you yourself use the English opening? This is from part experience too; I encounter 1. e4 or d4 90% of the time. No one plays Kings Indian Atk (Nf3) or English (C4). Sicilian seems the most popular but english has its own lines like reversed sicilian. (1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d4) Would it not be a lot more fun to play sicilian as white with one more move?

When white plays his opening, usually the four best choices are 1. e4, d4, c4, or Nf3. Openings like Nc3 or f4 are not considered the best choice by programs.

I am flirting with it right now and am preparing to gently let down my Four Knights and other flirtations with 1.d4 systems. I have Watson's third edition of Mastering Chess Openings (the title escapes me - how wonderfully thorough my study must be!) and am learning a few lines, though I intend to forge my English Opening sword much like I did with my other openings - a little study and a great deal of rough thrust and parry practice.

As for the Reversed Sicilian, the extra move is not always what you want. The question is if there is really a way to put that extra tempo to a good use where it will give a clear advantage. There isn't a really great answer, I think, though it's entirely playable!

I wouldn't discount the Baltic, how I know 1.Nc3, and f4, Bird's Opening, because they lead to fresh types of positions! Perhaps not the theoretically best, but they certainly were interesting in the few offhand games I played with them.

Who needs openings, Just make a logical move when it's your turn.

Due to its apparent similarity to Sicilian, I try to avoid using it in a serious game. In addition, it is usually transformed to other opening systems (not for sure on a willing basis).

English to Benoni is a favorite of mine.