Tips on the English opening

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The_Hazard

I have recently been using the English opening, and am growing very fond of it..however as I am a beginner, I was wondering if anyone could give me any useful tips on the opening and how to use it to it's full potential.

TheGreatOogieBoogie

Study games of Staunton (filter for 1.c4 and white wins games before 1900 so not just his wins but some Anderssen wins too), Petrosian (he had a mean reversed Dragon, good vs. 1...e5 variations), and Karpov. 

The most critical to study are in order 1...Nf6 1...c5 and 1...e5.  As a 1...e5 player 1.c4,e5 2.Nf3,Nc6 3.Nc3,Nf6 4.g3,d5 5.cxd5,Nxd5 6.Bg2 and here 6...Nb6 is the most popular line, but I personally go 6...Nxc3 so I can place a bishop on c5 and retreat it to b6 if needed.  A Nb6 and Bc5 is a clumsy combination. If Nxc3 you want to capture towards the center or else Qxd1+ you can't castle.