What is the best way to stop the English opening?

Hey everyone, how's it going? I'm pretty new to chess and my opening repertoire is still super basic — I mostly play the Italian and the English Opening as White, and as Black I only know the Sicilian and the standard 1...e5 stuff. Now, here's my dilemma: I've been studying the English Opening a lot and I actually like playing it as White... but when someone plays the English against me, I honestly get kinda lost. I’m not sure what plans to go for, how to set up my pieces, or how to counterattack properly. So my question is: what's the best way to face the English Opening as Black? Any systems, setups, or practical ideas you'd recommend for someone who's still building their repertoire but wants to handle it better? Thanks a lot — really looking forward to hearing your thoughts and learning from you guys!

What do you play against 1.d4? There are times that you can go for the same development pattern against 1.c4 as you would against 1.d4 (e.g. 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 if you play the Slav/Semi Slav). Also, what mainline Sicilian do you play? The Symmetrical variation is a possibility.

I used to hate the English so I would mirror the first 7-10 moves White made, waiting for a deviation that I could expose with a tactic. Problem is, it backfired-a lot. So I looked at what the aims are for it: both players are locking up the center and White will play in both wings, usually opting for a3/b4 by setting up Rb1 prior. On the King side, if his Knight is on e2, there is an idea for playing f4-f5. Black usually either tries to control the open c file if the Knights are exchanged on d4 & d5, trying to break through on the 2nd rank before White can get a wing attack in. He can also play his own King side attack with an f5-f4 advance though this usually means the f6 Knight has moved, typically to d7 or e8 after castling. So what other ideas can Black use? 1... Nf6 comes to mind. It lists here as the Anglo-Indian Defense. There's ideas where Black does not go for symmetry at all and plays with a pawn formation of e5/d6/c6 and there is 1.... d5. Look up how these ideas play in the explorer or if you have access to a database of games, you might find some ideas you understand and can use.

i dont think there is a "best" here its more about your style.

i like 
1.c4 b6 because it directly counters the prized kingside fianchetto that's coming . Black can even go for 1.c4 b6 2.nf3 bb7 3.g3 Bxf3 and ruin white's idllyic little set up. There is also 1.c4 b6 2.nc3 bb7 3.e4 (white is purposefully delaying d4 to make bb4 have less sting) e5! with plans of bc5, nc6, d6, ne7 , 0-0 and f5 is very good for black, a near instant equalizer.
if not,why not a reversed closed sicilian? black will go 1.e5. 2.nc6 f5, either bc5 or bb4 or sometimes even g6 bg7, 0-0, and then you begin a kingside attack with qe8-qh5 and f5-f4.

Things I've played vs English:

1. 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 then d5 and transpose into classical Tarrasch usually. This is normally good as I like the unbalanced positions and most English players have less experience vs Tarrasch than 1. d4 players.

2. symmetric English. Very hard to break if black knows when and how to break symmetry. But a bit boring

3. Sort of symmetric English: 2 choices: Botvinnik setup and standard d6 Nf6, Nc6 etc. Whichever white picks I pick the other. Slightly more fun that #2 but can still stagnate where your best play is to wait for white to do something.

4. Larsen's idea in sort of symmetric English. Play c5, Nc6 g6 Bg7 then (!) Qd7 b6 Bb7 and 000. Can be exciting and often surprises white.

5. Slav like setup where you first get lt sq bishop out before e6 is played. Very solid and very boring.

Currently my fav's are 1 and 4 but I play for love not money and just want an interesting game.

-Bill

"4. Larsen's idea in sort of symmetric English. Play c5, Nc6 g6 Bg7 then (!) Qd7 b6 Bb7 and 000. Can be exciting and often surprises white."

i never seen this idea before! very interesting.

Often you can play Bxc3, bxc3, then Na5 which stops a queenside attack. Then expand with f5 Nf6 etc. It's fun in a weird sort of way.

do you have any games by larsen or some other strong player employing this idea?

I'll dig out some. (I old and use paper rather than chessbase)

OK can't find my notes and dont have the book they are taken from anymore but ''another site'' under opening explorer gives a bunch of games after

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Qd7

including 2012.06.07 Nakamura, Hikaru (2775) Carlsen, Magnus (2835)

oh wow, checked out two games. This is very cool formation. Has a very nimzo-indian feel to it.

the easiest opening to learn against the english is just the caro kann system. i had the exact same problem as you, and then one day I was like, "ima learn how to play against the english" and I found the caro kann system. its really simple and easy to learn and you get into very comfortable middlegames.

Anglo Dutch 1. c4 f5. Or play 1.c4 e6 and see if they go into Queens Gambit playing 2.d4 d5. Nf6 is also common and see what they do. Look up a line you like the look of and learn it. Reverse Sicilian of 1.c4 e5 is also an option. I play the Dutch against 1.d4 and Anglo Dutch or Reverse Sicilian against 1.c4. I like asymetrical games and play Sicilian against 1.e4 so it is not outside my comfort zone. You could just play 1..c6 and see if they play 2.e4 d5 you are in a caro kann. 2.d4 d4 you are in a slav defence.

2.d4 d5 that should say.