Estragon wrote:
Do they still make 6-packs? I've been seeing only 4-packs for years.
I was just being all colloquially American & stuff (I've never been wealthy enough to be able to buy more than one at a time). 
How to meet the English?
Sort:
I'm an english player and e6 is one of those tough nuts .But white can get a pretty reasonable game.
I always play e3
From my experience the 1..f5 leningrad is probably what most english opening players hate playing against the most.
Cheese, we just got them off their intenational pissing contest!
Since English is my native tongue, I usually start with, "hello".
InfiniteFlash wrote:
From my experience the 1..f5 leningrad is probably what most english opening players hate playing against the most.
I don't even blink when someone plays that against me.
doduobird123 wrote:
I play Nf6 because I am a huge KID fan, and I hope they transpose.
Agreed. I do not see that much difference to how I react when someone plays d4, c4 or nf3 on the first move.
For me as an English-only player Botvinnik and Hedgehog systems are pretty easy to play against. Even thought they have their strong sides the game is pretty easy to foresee and the goals that you have to achieve are not that complicated.
I see 3 Major Ways of responding to the English.
1. Symmetrical ...c5 systems: Passive response which leads to an even game, where black has slight disadvantage but can easily capitalize on any errors.
2. Responses Including the push of ...e5. Usually here black proceeds with an attack on white's king , while white player is trying to make an opening on the queen side of the board. A lot of tactical opportunities may arise. Pretty straight-forward, slightly unpleasant some English-players.
2.1 The Botvinnik system - involves pushing both c5 and e5 which in my view leaves a giant hole in your position at the d5 square. This can be abused with a knight maneuver from Nf3->Ne1->Nc2->Ne3->Nd5. White's goal here is to exchange its dark bishop for a knight very early in the beginning. If this is achieved there is no way in hell to lose the game, unless of course you do a major mistake.
3. Strongest option for black is transition to the Queen's Gambit/Catalan opening with 1...c6 followed by 2...d5. If someone wants to play the QG/Catalan they will. If they are playing the English this is what they want and probably they dont feel comfortable with the QG/Catalan that much. My experience has shown me that attempts to avoid the transition are not good for white. You are forced to push d4 very early or you lose the centre which leads to a very hard game. Please notice this opening does not give any direct advantage to the black player but still it helps him stray away from his oppononets comfort zone.
3.1 Transitions beginning with ...e6 ...d5 also can lead to Catalan/QGD, however i believe they are slightly worse for black in the exchange variation compated to the ...c6 ...d5 option. The Slav-Exchange variation is almost 100% killing white's first move advantage.
Would it okay to play like I woudl play the sicilian? ie