English Opening
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.c4
ECOA10–A39
OriginStaunton vs. Saint-Amant, 1843
Named afterHoward Staunton, English player and World Champion (unofficial)

The English Opening is a chess opening that begins with the move:

1. c4

A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular[1][2] and, according to various databases, one of the four most successful of White's twenty possible first moves.[1][3] White begins the fight for the centre 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 as 1.Nf3 – to avoid such highly regarded responses to 1.d4 as the Nimzo-Indian and Grünfeld Defences – and is considered reliable and flexible.[4]

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.[5] It did not inspire Staunton's contemporaries and caught on only in the twentieth century.[5] It is now recognised as a solid 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 created a stir when he switched to it from his customary 1.e4 late in his career, employing it against Lev Polugaevsky and Oscar Panno at the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal in 1970, and in his world championship match against Boris Spassky.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

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[6] (classified A30–39 in ECO) 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 (or 2.Nf3) c5.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c5 black pawn
c4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Symmetrical Defence: 1.c4 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 (see below). Same as above, the position could transpose into a Queen's Gambit Declined or an Open Sicilian involving the Maróczy Bind.

There are several types of positions that can arise from the Symmetrical Defence. Among the ideas are:[7]

Reversed Sicilian: 1...e5

The Reversed Sicilian (classified A20–29 in ECO) 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.

abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
e5 black pawn
c4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Reversed Sicilian: 1...e5

After 1...e5, White has Black's position in the Sicilian but with an extra tempo. This is often called the Reversed Sicilian,[9] though others call it the King's English.[10] 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 defences consist of Nf6, e6, and d5 or Bb4 systemic responses by Black, or a Slav-like system consisting of c6 and d5, a direct King's Indian Defence setup with Nf6, g6, Bg7, 0-0, after which c5 and e5 are eschewed, or 1...f5, which usually transposes to a Dutch Defence once White plays d4. All irregular responses such as 1...b6 and 1...g5 are also lumped into this third broad category.

Transposition potential

If White plays an early d4, the game will usually transpose into either the Queen's Gambit or an Indian Defence. For example, after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 d5 the game has transposed into the Grünfeld Defence, usually reached by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5.

White can, however, also play 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4, making it impossible for Black to reach a Grünfeld, instead more or less forcing them 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 king's bishop (g3 and Bg2), 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.[19]

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 (QGD), the most accurate move order to do so is 1...e6 2.d4 d5. (Of course, White can again 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:

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 (rather than algebraic, as the former was contemporary in the late 19th century), 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Meyer-Kahlen, Stefan. "Shredder opening database statistics". Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  2. ^ "Chess Opening Explorer". Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  3. ^ "Chess Openings Database statistics". Archived from the original on 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2009-08-17.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ Chess Life. Vol. 59 (1–7 ed.). United States Chess Federation. 2004. p. 303.
  5. ^ a b de Firmian, Nick (2008). Modern Chess Openings: MCO-15. New York: David McKay Co. p. 675. ISBN 978-0-8129-3682-7.
  6. ^ Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992]. "Symmetrical Defence". The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 404. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
  7. ^ Cummings, David (October 1, 2001). Symmetrical English. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-292-2.
  8. ^ de Firmian, Nick (1999). Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. New York: David McKay Co. pp. 661–65. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.
  9. ^ Weeks, Mark. "Chess Opening Tutorial : English – 1...e5". About, Inc. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  10. ^ Kasparov, Gary; Keene, Raymond (1982). Batsford Chess Openings. B.T.Batsford Ltd. ISBN 0-7134-2114-2.
  11. ^ "English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense - Chess Openings".
  12. ^ ChessBase.com, Hugh Myers (1930–2008), opening theoretician (2008-12-25). Retrieved on 2008-12-25.
  13. ^ a b c "The Impoliteness of Ice Age Openings" (PDF). Stefan Bücker. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  14. ^ Rick Kennedy, Review of A Chess Explorer. Retrieved on 2008-12-27.
  15. ^ Watson remarks, "Note ... how White (by his shockingly committal first move) has forfeited his chance for [c3], the key move in several of the most effective defences to Grob's Attack". John L. Watson, English: Franco, Slav and Flank Defences, Batsford, 1981, p. 103. ISBN 0-7134-2690-X. Watson considers 1...g5 "playable". Id.
  16. ^ John Nunn, Graham Burgess, John Emms, and Joe Gallagher, Nunn's Chess Openings, Everyman Publishers, 1999, p. 19 n. 1. ISBN 1-85744-221-0.
  17. ^ "A10: English, Jaenisch gambit - 1. c4 b5 - Chess Opening explorer". www.365chess.com. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  18. ^ Schiller, Eric (1998). "English Opening • Halbut Gambit". Unorthodox Chess Openings. Cardoza Publishing. pp. 135–36. ISBN 0-940685-73-6.
  19. ^ Silman, Jeremy (2004). "The Dynamic English". Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

Further reading

External links

The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: English Opening
White's twenty opening moves in chess
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