English Opening: moves, ideas and plans

1.c4: a flexible flank opening. White fights for d5 from the side and often plays a reversed Sicilian.

A29Play it as WhiteIntermediate14 moves

Main line: 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7

Key ideas

• c4 controls d5 without committing the central pawns.
• The fianchettoed bishop on g2 rakes the long diagonal.
• White has an extra tempo compared with a Sicilian Dragon.

The English Opening move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as A29 English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6.

1. 1. c4The English: control of d5 from the flank.
2. 1… e5Black takes the centre, a reversed Sicilian.
3. 2. Nc3Develops and controls d5.
4. 2… Nf6Development.
5. 3. Nf3Attacks e5.
6. 3… Nc6Defends it: the Four Knights English.
7. 4. g3Prepares Bg2 on the long diagonal.
8. 4… d5Black takes the central space White gave up.
9. 5. cxd5White trades the flank pawn for a central one.
10. 5… Nxd5The knight recaptures in the centre.
11. 6. Bg2The bishop now presses on d5 and the queenside.
12. 6… Nb6The knight steps out of the pin and away from exchanges.
13. 7. O-OWhite castles.
14. 7… Be7Black prepares to castle too.

More openings for White