You can just play the Dutch against the English.
Or maybe you would like the reversed Gran Prix with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 f5.
Otherwise you could try something like 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 or 3...c6.
You can just play the Dutch against the English.
Or maybe you would like the reversed Gran Prix with 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 f5.
Otherwise you could try something like 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 or 3...c6.
I also play the English every game, and find that the 1 c4 Nf6 lines are the most tactical as long as you know an indian defence
When I played the English, I found the Dutch one of the hardest to play against partly because I was successful with the black side. I think white might have a long term pull BUT IMHO it's harder to play the white side. It seems to me black often just has to push his f pawn and transfer his queen to the kingside.
(BTW like your user name ManicMiner. I used to play the Spectrum version many years ago and could never crack the final level. Great platform game ! )
I recommend the English Defense:
1.c4 b6 and now:
A) 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 f5
B) 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Nc3 Bb4
C) 2.g3 Bg7 3.Nf3 Bxf3 4.exf4 c6
D) 2.Nc3 Bb7 3.e4 e6 4.Nf3 c5 heading into Hedgehog type positions - Very similar to the Sicilian Kan lines with 5.c4
You can also execute a Hedgehog if you prefer in line C, answering move 3 with 3...c5.
Those proposing a Dutch-like defense with black are on good lines, generally, against the English. If black gets f5 in before white can break-open either on the Q-side or with white's own attempt to open f- with f4 after about move 10, then black has good chances at a K-side attack before white can respond.
ThrillerFan's lines and penandpaper0089's lines look attractive to me, if I were playing black. And, if I see 1. c4 as black, I often respond with a flank opening myself, 1. ..f5. Although, truth be told, I'm more efficient with 1. .. e5.
Why not play the reverse grand prix? it's sound and dangerous for white at our level, it was good enough for fischer, and you'll be familiar with the ideas and positions
Why not play the reverse grand prix?
+1. A good choice for our amateur level of play.
I've had good luck with the English Defense against 1. c4. It confuses a lot of players. I have a book on it, but GM Simon Williams did a video series on it for Chess.com. It starts 1. c4 b6 2. d4 e6. You have to be up on the French, in case they convert, but most 1. d4 players won't switch to an 1. e4 opening.
Yes. I like it and of course there is an overlap with the Dutch if white allows a f5/Bb2 setup.I have found quite a few white players who are happy to transpose to the French, which I don't think is a problem myself. I like 1...b6 against 1Nf3 as well as 1c4.
Just wanted to say thank you guys for all your suggestions - In the end I did play the dutch against him - he played a slightly fishy looking line against it, going into a kind of stonewall pawn formation (at least I think that's accurate) and after the game said he's never seen 1... f5 before and it totally confused him - If I can figure out how to do it, I'll post the game here for people to see how it went (although it was far from a spectacular game from me I suspect
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I have an important club game tomorrow night against an opponent who exclusively plays 1.c4 as white. I know I have the black pieces, so I've been trying to swot up on the opening and to be honest, the main lines look very unappealing to me. I know my opponent fairly well and I know they favour 1.c4 as their opening because they consider it to be very "safe", and they like to avoid playing very open, tactical positions.
We are both pretty weak club players, so I don't really need something razor-accurate, but he's been playing this one opening for years and years so it seems reasonable to assume that he knows at least the basis of the main-line theory on it. On the other hand, I have a semi-reasonable e4/d4 repertoire as black, but very rarely face the english opening and as such have no experience to draw on.
As white I play King's Gambit if I can get 1... e5, or the Grand Prix attack if they play 1... c5. This probably gives you a sense of the kind of play I enjoy. I play the classical Dutch against 1.d4 usually, so this was going to be my default position (as 1. c4 f5 very often transposes into a straight forward dutch defence position, so I'll at least have something I'm familiar with) but I was wondering if there's anything else I could be looking at that might lead to a more open game where I can hopefully out-calculate him? (I'm like, 40 years his junior, so it seems at least possible LOL)
Open to suggestions - and as a lifelong King's Gambiteer, soundness isn't necessarily a requirement, although I'd like something where the best defense doesn't just flat-out bust you on the spot!