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Questions tagged [english-opening]

The English Opening is the chess opening characterized by white's opening move 1. c4.

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Why do masters open 1.d4 more often than 1.c4?

Why do masters open 1.d4 more often than they open with the English 1.c4? STATISTICS According to 365chess.com, 1.d4 is five times as common. Moreover, even if one admits Réti's 1.Nf3 as an English variant (or vice versa), counting Réti and the…
thb
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Stockfish is considering a move in a book by GM Mihail Marin as a blunder

In the book English opening volume 1 by Mihail Marin at this position [fen "3nrrk1/bppq2p1/p4p1p/2Pp4/1P1P3N/P1BQ2P1/5PKP/4RR2 w - - 2 21"] 1. Qg6 (1. Ng6) He suggests Qg6 whereas stockfish suggests Ng6 and evaluation drops from +4.3 to +1.1 after…
Shreyash Talpade
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What is the strategic significance of the English Opening?

I enjoy playing the English opening, pushing my pawn to c4, and trying to out flank my opponent. But I have a hard time, outside of playing normal lines, understanding the advantage it gives, and why it leads to fantastic games. Any insights?
Kelly J Andrews
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Outsmarting an intelligent copycat in the Ultrasymmetrical English

I used to be a fan of the English, but some ultrasymmetrical variations bugged me, especially if a lower rated player decided to play for a draw against me with them. There seemed to be a lot to consider to get any sort of meaningful advantage, if…
aschultz
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Is the English opening the most suitable for beginners?

Here are my understandings of the English opening: The English opening is as good as 1.d4. Since it is less common than 1.e4 and 1.d4; it is more likely that an average amateur player is less familar with it and thus it is easier for white to play…
Zuriel
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Why after 1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 is so common but after 1. c4 Nf6, 2. d4 is so rare?

I am using Lichess's master database and after 1. d4 Nf6, 71.63% of the game continues with 2. c4. However, after 1. c4 Nf6, only 5.22% of the game continues with 2. d4. Are they not essentially the same opening? My question is: Why after 1. d4 Nf6,…
Zuriel
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Did Kasparov refute over the board Karpov's 1987 novelty?

In the second game of the 1987 World Championship, Kasparov played an English opening. In the ninth move Karpov played a novelty that he had prepared for his 1981 match with Korchnoi (the usual play is 9. ... exf3). It is claimed that Kasparov's…
yrodro
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I like to play 1. e4 but I dislike 1. ... c5. Can I continue with 2. c4?

I read a related but closed question here and I share a very similar feeling. I would love to play 1. e4 but I only feel comfortable when my opponent replies with 1. ... e5, or French, or Caro-Kann. I find 1. ... c5 too complicated and too risky for…
Zuriel
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Can you recommend a variation in the English opening for a technical player?

I'm looking to study the English opening. To cut down my homework, I would like to focus on one or two variations. Why am I interested in the English opening, I hear you cry? Mostly because I want to vary my games a bit*. I'm a fan of 1. d4 and 1.…
user1108
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In what cases is it good to play the Maroczy Bind in the Symmetrical English?

I'm thinking about playing the Maroczy Bind with White in the Symmetrical English (1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 - notice that I start with 1. Nf3). But I don't know exactly in what cases I should play it. So I would like to know if these four sentences are true…
Fate
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Is the Reversed Sicilian / King's English 1. c4 e5 more of a positional and quiet opening or a wild and tactical opening?

The only thing that deters me from playing 1. c4 followed by a Kingside Fianchetto is 1...e5 the Reversed Sicilian (also called the King's English). I like quiet, positional, strategic and maneuvering games (not wild tactical games with direct…
Fate
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Why does Black play 10...a6 in the A39 variation of the English opening?

I observed that after [fen ""] 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.g3 Bg7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.Qd3 In many games, Black played the strange move 10...a6!? It has been played by top players like Kasparov, Anand and…
NM Wesley Falcao
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What's the etymology behind the Great Snake Variation?

This is called the Modern Defense: [FEN ""] 1.e4 g6 This is called the Modern Defense: [FEN ""] 1.d4 g6 This is called the "English Opening: Great Snake Variation": [FEN ""] 1.c4 g6 Why?
James Ko
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Why was 3...c5 for black was a bad move?

I played a player ranked about 450 points higher, and I was out-played. I managed to give a fight but was trailing all along. The player used the English opening and on third move I (black) played c5. My aim was to control centre, and dissuade white…
Hanyanrou
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In the opening stage, can we determine that one move is better than another by looking at winning percentage?

After 1.c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6, thousands of games have been played with the following two moves of white: 3.g3 and 3.e4. It seems that the winning percentage suggested that 3.e4 is clearly better than 3.g3, though interestingly, more games are played…
Zuriel
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