English Opening


The English Opening is a chess opening that begins with the move:
A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, one of the four most successful of White's twenty possible first moves. White begins the fight for the by staking a claim to the d5-square from the wing, in hypermodern style. Although many lines of the English have a distinct character, the opening is often used as a transpositional device in much the same way, though to a lesser extent, as the Zukertort Opening. In particular, transpositions to the King's Indian Defence and Queen's Gambit Declined are common, among others. This allows players to avoid certain responses to 1.d4 if they desire to, such as the Nimzo-Indian and Grünfeld. The opening is considered reliable and flexible.
The two most common independent lines that usually start with 1.c4 are the Symmetrical Variation and the Reversed Sicilian. Another notable independent line that does not derive from either of those is the Mikėnas-Carls Variation. Other common independent lines, such as the Neo-Catalan, Anglo-Grünfeld, and Nimzo-English, generally parallel the development of their 1.d4 counterparts well into the game, hence their names. The Botvinnik System, which can be played against a variety of Black defenses, is also classified as an English.
In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, the opening is found in codes A10–A39. The opening was employed by Ding Liren in the twelfth game of the World Chess Championship 2024 against Gukesh Dommaraju, resulting in a win for Ding, one of his most famous games. He also used it to achieve a win in the fourth game of the World Chess Championship 2023 against Ian Nepomniachtchi.

History of the opening

The English derives its name from the leading 19th-century English master Howard Staunton, who played it during his 1843 match with Saint-Amant and at London 1851, the first international tournament. It did not inspire Staunton's contemporaries and caught on only in the twentieth century. It is now recognised as a opening that may be used to reach both classical and hypermodern chess positions. Mikhail Botvinnik, Tigran Petrosian, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, and Ding Liren have employed it during their world championship matches. Bobby Fischer, shortly before bringing a sudden end to his career, created a stir when he switched to it from his customary 1.e4; he employed it against Lev Polugaevsky and Oscar Panno at the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal in 1970, and in his world championship match against Boris Spassky.

Taxonomy

Opening theoreticians who write on the English Opening divide it into three broad categories, generally determined by Black's choice of defensive setup.

Symmetrical Defence: 1...c5

The Symmetrical Defence is 1...c5, and is so named because both of the c-pawns are advanced two squares, maintaining symmetry. Note that Black can reach the Symmetrical Defence through many move orders by deferring...c5, and often does. For example, 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5.
Either player may make an early break in the centre with the d-pawn.
Similar to the Open Sicilian, an early d2–d4 for White can arise on the third move in the Symmetrical Defence with 2.Nf3, where Black has chosen one of 2...Nc6, 2...e6, 2...d6, or 2...g6.
After 3.d4, the game usually continues with 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4. The games can give a large variety of positional and tactical ideas, and can transpose into variants of the Open Sicilian involving the Maróczy Bind, such as the Accelerated Dragon, Taimanov, Kan, or Kalashnikov Variations, if White plays e4 in a later move. If Black manages to play d5 before White plays e4, then the game could transpose into variants of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
When Black plays 2...Nf6, these lines are often called the Anti-Benoni, since these positions are often reached after the transposition 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3, where White avoided the Benoni Defense that would arise after 3.d5. After 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4, Black could follow up with 4...e5 forcing White's knight to go to the queenside and avoiding the transpositions to the Sicilian or the QGD; however, White could avoid the line by first playing 3.Nc3 and then play 4.d4, if Black doesn't play 3...d5. Same as above, the position could transpose into a Queen's Gambit Declined or an Open Sicilian involving the Maróczy Bind.
  • With 2.e3 Nf6, the position transposes into a Panov–Botvinnik Attack after 3.d4 cxd4 4.exd4 d5. Alternatively, the position could transpose into a Tarrasch Defense in the Queen's Gambit Declined.
  • A typical line of play where Black plays an early...d5 is 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5, when White usually trades off in the centre 4.cxd5 Nxd5. White can either challenge the centre with 5.d4 or 5.e4 or allow Black a advantage in the centre with 5.g3. In the latter case, Black can play 5...Nc6 6.Bg2 Nc7 followed by 7...e5, reaching a reversed Maróczy Bind position called the Rubinstein System.
There are several types of positions that can arise from the Symmetrical Defence. Among the ideas are:
  • The Hedgehog system involves a solid but flexible defence in which Black develops by b6, e6, Bb7, and Be7, before controlling the fifth rank with moves such as a6 and d6. The game typically involves extended maneuvering, but both players need to be on the lookout for favourable pawn advances and.
  • The double fianchetto defence involves Black developing both bishops by fianchetto to g7 and b7. The line is fairly solid and difficult to defeat at the grandmaster level. Some lines are considered highly drawish, for instance if White's bishops are also fianchettoed to g2 and b2 there may be many piece exchanges leading to a simplified and equal position.

Reversed Sicilian: 1...e5

The Reversed Sicilian is another broad category of defence, introduced by the response 1...e5. Note again, that Black can delay playing...e5, for example 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 whereupon even though...e5 has been delayed, once it is played the defence is classified as a Reversed Sicilian.
After 1...e5, White has Black's position in the Sicilian but with an extra tempo. This is often called the Reversed Sicilian, though others call it the King's English. Bruce Leverett, writing the English chapter in MCO-14, stated, "It is natural to treat the English as a Sicilian reversed, but the results are often surprising—main lines in the Sicilian Defence correspond to obscure side variations in the English, and vice versa."

Other lines

The third broad category consists of the non-...e5 and non-...c5 responses, classified A10–19 in ECO. Most often these lines consist of Nf6, e6, and d5 systemic responses by Black, a Slav-like system consisting of c6 and d5, or a direct King's Indian Defence setup with Nf6, g6, Bg7, 0-0, after which c5 and e5 are eschewed. All irregular responses such as 1...b6 and 1...g5 are also lumped into this third broad category.
  • 1...Nf6 is the most common response to 1.c4, with Black typically desiring to transpose to an Indian Defence. If White continues to avoid playing d4, Black often elects to transpose into either a Symmetrical Defence with a later...c5, or a Reversed Sicilian with...e5.
  • *1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 is an aggressive line. The most common continuation is 3...d5 4.e5, known as the Flohr Variation. A series of exchanges then usually occurs with 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6. Black can also play 4...Nc6, the Kevitz Variation, or attempt to transpose to the Sicilian Defence with 4...c5.
  • 1...e6 intends a supported 2...d5. White usually responds with 2.Nc3 or 2.Nf3, and the game often ends up transposing to other lines, most commonly to the Queen's Gambit Declined or the Catalan Opening, or to lines of the Anglo-Indian if Black has played Nf6.
  • *1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 is similar to the Catalan Opening. Black usually either opens the game with 4...dxc4, which usually continues 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4, or plays the quieter 4...Be7.
  • 1...c6 can lead to a Slav Defense after 2.d4 d5, but White will often transpose to the Caro–Kann Defence with 2.e4 d5, or a Réti Opening after 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3. Another option is 1.c4 c6 2.d4 d6, the Anglo-Slav Opening.
  • 1...f5 leads to a Dutch Defence when White follows up with d4. Other choices for White are 2.Nc3, 2.Nf3, and 2.g3, where Black usually plays...Nf6.
  • 1...g6 may lead to a Modern Defense, or after Nf6 and d6 or d5 to the King's Indian Defence or the Grünfeld Defence, respectively, or stay within English lines. Often dubbed the Great Snake Variation.
  • 1...b6 is the English Defence. This setup involves the fianchetto of the queenside bishop and 2...e6. Often Black will defer the move Nf6, choosing to attack the centre with f5 and/or Qh4. The English grandmasters Tony Miles and Jonathan Speelman have successfully used this opening.
  • 1...d6 most often transposes to the Reversed Sicilian or the Rat Defense if White plays 2.d4.
  • 1...d5 is the Anglo-Scandinavian Defense. Thought of as inferior to the Scandinavian Defense due to exchanging the c-pawn for a center pawn, in addition to the Scandinavian already having a somewhat suspect reputation.
  • 1...g5 is an eccentric response known as Myers' Defense after Hugh Myers's advocacy of it in print and actual play. It is intended as an improved Grob's Attack; after 2.d4, Black will put pressure on the d4-square with moves such as...Bg7,...c5, and...Qb6. According to Nunn's Chess Openings, White obtains a small advantage after 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 h6 4.e4. Myers recommended 3...c5 ; in response, Joel Benjamin advocates 4.dxc5
  • 1...b5 is called the Jaenisch Gambit after Carl Jaenisch. Black obtains no immediate compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

Transposition potential

Transposition is common if White plays d4 and Black has not yet entered the Symmetrical Variation or Reversed Sicilian by playing c5 or e5. In other lines, the game usually transposes into either the Queen's Gambit or an Indian Defence after White plays d4. For example, after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 d5, the game transposes into the Grünfeld Defence, which is more often reached by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5. However, White can also play 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4, making it impossible for Black to reach a Grünfeld, instead more or less forcing Black into lines of the King's Indian Defence with 3...d6. Black also cannot force a Grünfeld with 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5, since White can deviate with 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3, a line played several times by Mikhail Botvinnik in 1958, in his final match for the world championship with Vasily Smyslov.
Instead of playing an early d4, White can also play Nf3 and fianchetto the, transposing into a Réti Opening. Also, after 1.c4 c6, White can transpose into the Polish Opening, Outflank Variation, by playing 2.b4, which can be used as a surprise weapon if Black does not know very much about the Polish Opening.
The many different transpositional possibilities available to White make the English a slippery opening for Black to defend against, and make it necessary for them to consider carefully what move order to employ. For instance, if Black would like to play a Queen's Gambit Declined, the most accurate move order to do so is 1...e6 and 2...d5, the Agincourt Defence, with transposition occurring if White plays 3.d4. As before, White could play the Réti instead with 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3. If Black plays instead 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 e6, White can avoid the QGD by playing 3.e4, the Flohr–Mikenas Attack.

''ECO''

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has classified the English Opening under the codes A10 through A39:
  • A10 1.c4
  • A11 1.c4 c6
  • A12 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.b3
  • A13 1.c4 e6
  • A14 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0
  • A15 1.c4 Nf6
  • A16 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3
  • A17 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6
  • A18 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4
  • A19 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5
  • A20 1.c4 e5
  • A21 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3
  • A22 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6
  • A23 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 c6
  • A24 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 g6
  • A25 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6
  • A26 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6
  • A27 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3
  • A28 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6
  • A29 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3
  • A30 1.c4 c5
  • A31 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4
  • A32 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6
  • A33 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Nc6
  • A34 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3
  • A35 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6
  • A36 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3
  • A37 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3
  • A38 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6
  • A39 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4

Depiction in cinema

The English Opening is used by Professor Moriarty in the film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows as he and Holmes discuss their competing plans over a game of chess. Both Holmes and Moriarty eventually play the final moves blindfolded by citing out the last moves in descriptive notation, ending in Holmes checkmating Moriarty, just as Watson foils Moriarty's plans.
1.c4 is also used in Pawn Sacrifice by Bobby Fischer in the climactic game six of the 1972 World Chess Championship versus Boris Spassky.