Don Chess

Learn the English Opening

You start on the flank with 1.c4 and control the centre from afar. Flexible, strategic and hugely popular among pros.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

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

A29 · English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

1.c4 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c4.
1…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
2.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.
2…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
3.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
3…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
4.g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop goes to the long diagonal.
4…d5 Attacks the pawn on c4 – the fight for the centre begins.
5.cxd5 Takes the pawn on d5.
5…Nxd5 Takes back on d5 – material is level again.
6.Bg2 Develops the bishop to g2 – pieces out first, then attack.
6…Nb6 The knight was attacked and goes to safety on b6.
7.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
7…Be7 Develops the bishop to e7 – pieces out first, then attack.

Idea and plans

The idea

1.c4 controls d5 from the side. Often a reversed Sicilian structure arises.

Plan for White

A g3/Bg2 fianchetto, pressure on the long diagonal and queenside play with b4.

Plan for Black

Occupy the centre with …e5 (reversed Sicilian) or …c5 (symmetrical).

The 8 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line, with Nb6 A29Main line
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line A38
1.c4 1…c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.O-O O-O
Queen's Gambit Declined D53
1.c4 1…Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg5
Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Positional Variation D35
1.c4 1…e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation A37
1.c4 1…g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nf3
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack A21
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 2…Bb4 3.Nd5 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.e4
English Opening: King's English Variation, Closed System, Full Symmetry A26
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 2…Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.Rb1
Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line D45
1.c4 1…c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4