Debut English beginning of chess. English beginning

The English opening is a flank opening, meaning that White makes the first move with a pawn on the C file instead of the typical E or G.
Many chess players may consider this opening a little "unusual", but just hold your judgment for a minute before I go into detail!
Firstly, the English opening is considered one of the most successful openings. This means that by playing you automatically maximize your chances of winning. Secondly, the English Opening is quite flexible and can be transposed into many different 1.d4 variations.

Many grandmasters chose this opening, including Mikhail Botvinnik, Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen. I believe that the English opening is one of the best openings for advanced players.

1.c4

Thanks to this move, White immediately takes control of the d5 square. Depending on how the even numbers go, White will prefer to play 2.d4, 2.Nf3 or even 2.c5.
This opening can lead into many different continuations, including the Sicilian Defense (1...e5), Indian Defense (1...NF6) or the Queen's Gambit (1...e6).

Another popular continuation in the English opening is Symmetrical defense, and this should be known to anyone who wants to add an English opening to their openings.
If you have a rank in chess (or more), this will be one of the best beginnings for you.

1.…c5

One of White's most important ideas is the Hedgehog System. Black's plans are to withdraw the pawn b7, e6, a6 and d6 with the bishops located on b7 and d7.
This is a strong and reliable defense for Black, but there is a significant drawback - the lack of room for maneuver. White usually positions his pawns on c4 and e4, forming a "Maroczy Bind" formation.

Here is a typical "Hedgehog System" position with "Maroczy Bind" on the field

White has a better position of pawns, and thus stabilizes the end of the game. In any exchange, only whites will benefit.
On the other hand, Black can make a minor exchange, freeing up the position. The lack of space creates problems for maneuvers both in defense and in attack.

Another idea for White involves an early breakthrough in the center with the white pawn. This usually goes like this:

2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4

White continues to put pressure on the center and offers to exchange a pawn. White's plan is to create a "Maroczy Bind" position, gaining space and moving the king to safety with short castling.
Black will either choose a slightly passive Hedgehog System or something more active involving the pawn... e5. In any case, there is no reason for White to worry, he is completely in control of the situation.
This is why the English Opening is one of the best openings for advanced players, whether you are playing against stronger or weaker opponents.

3…cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.e4 b6

White's plan is to develop the bishop on e2, and another on g5, short castling and perhaps play Qe3 or Qc2, depending on the circumstances.
White gets a very promising position with a significant advantage of space and control of the center.
Black, on the other hand, plans to develop the bishop on e7 and b7, place the queen on c7 and advance the pawns on a7 and d6. This is another example of the "Hedgehog System" - exactly what black wants to achieve.
They have a very strong position without any obvious weaknesses. A position that can be defended against any possible type of attack. If White is not careful, they may end up becoming a defensive side.

This is a good position for both white and black, with many different continuation variations.
Indeed, White has certain advantages, but they are far from decisive.
Overall, the English Opening is one of the best openings for advanced players due to its wide variety of positions, flexibility and simplicity. If you're looking for a debut, this is a great choice.

Each of us loves to play chess. The beginning of the game is a tough struggle in which successful positions for your own pieces are chosen. It is necessary to take into account that during the opening part you should not just quickly mobilize your own pieces, as is written in all textbooks that talk about the beginning of a game of chess.

How to play an opening in chess?

Chess is such an unexpected game. During the game, a chess player must:

1. improve the position of mobilized figures;
2. give up bad pieces for exchange;
3. do everything necessary to push back the opponent’s pieces;
4. create unforeseen circumstances for the enemy;
5. follow the original tactics;
6. keep strengthening individual points that are of significant importance in strategy and tactics.

All these tasks, combined with the mobilization of all fighting forces, should answer the question of how to start a game of chess.

An opening that begins with the move c2-c4 and a flank attack is called an English opening. The video of this debut can easily be found on the World Wide Web.

This is a project approved by our readers, in which you or your child will be able to improve their playing skills, complete a chess level, and in a short time grow to a prize-winner of regional tournaments. The teachers are FIDE masters, online training.

It allows the chess player who prefers to start with white to prevent the emergence of modern and deeply thought-out tactics. How to start a game of chess if the first move d2-d4 is abandoned in favor of c2-c4? Accept the gambit with the queen. In recent years, this opening of the game has brought excellent results to opponents and can occur during grandmaster games. The first move c2-c4 does not allow the enemy to take over the tactics after the first move c4 e6 2. Kc3 d5 3. d4. This step will lead to an unfavorable start for the enemy.

Pros and cons of the English beginning

The main advantage compared to the d4 opening is that it is easier to build tactics this way. In this case, White can easily block his opponent's favorite positions. One of the main disadvantages of the first move is that the opponent can immediately respond with the first move e5. Many grandmasters, after the first opening c4 e5, believe that the probability of White winning is extremely low. Therefore, chess players who are afraid of the first response step e5 begin to play this tactic in a different playing order: 1. Kf3 Kf6, and only then the second C4. However, at the first step. Kf3 has one more disadvantage: black can play d5.

In order to see the tactics clearly, it is enough to delve a little into the essence of the process and understand what the Catalan beginning of online chess is.

This is a closed opening tactic in chess that begins with the sequence of moves:

2. c2-c4 e7-e6

By playing g3 on the third move, White does not give his opponents the opportunity to use the Nimzowitsch strategy for defense. White uses this opening with the goal of fighting for victory on the central flank from the very first moves, with the main role played by the king's bishop g2, which, in addition to putting pressure on the central flank, also makes it impossible for the opponent to develop the queenside.

The King's Indian Opening is a flank type opening, which players begin by attacking the opponent's strong side, from the center of the board. The d5 space must be quickly attacked by establishing control with White's king's bishop. A video of this victory can be found on the Internet. The King's Indian opening is a great start and provides many advantages in the game.

Patzer starts from 20

The start of the c20 patzer in chess begins with White's first move e2-e4 and the counter move d1-h5 to Black's first move e7-e5.

Zaragoza beginning in chess

Chess opening starting with the game c2-c3. It was invented in 1917 by a Spanish chess player originally from the city of Zaragoza. In 1921, a tournament was held in which everyone had to start their game with this combination.

Refers to irregular openings in chess and is quite rarely used in modern chess.

We hope that this article told you how to play an opening in chess. Now you have some basic skills and can learn further using our portal.

– this is White’s move on c4. It is not advisable for Black to respond with e5 to this move, because in the Sicilian Defense e4 c5 Black, as a rule, is fine. And here we get the same Sicilian, only with a different color. Here Black needs to focus on the same positions that he plays with d4.

For example, our coach Oleg Kislitsyn advises Olesya to play d5 with d4, and with c4 to play c6.

Diagram No. 1

English beginning - 1 option

In the “English Beginning” opening, you can focus on this position and play c6 on c4, and d5 on d4. The result will be the same position as in diagram No. 1.

English beginning - option No. 1

However, there is one not very pleasant nuance - White can play e4. Here d5 is not so interesting.

English beginning - 2nd option

English beginning - option No. 2

It is not profitable for White to take the pawn on d5, because it will be an isolator and White will lag behind in development. We need to quickly straighten out the pawns that were at d5.

Therefore, White quickly made an exchange and brought out d4 so that Black could eat on c4 and develop the white bishop. This Panov's attack .

Panov’s attack can also be obtained with a different order of moves:

3. e4:d5 c6:d5

This results in a position from the Caro-Kann defense. It is believed that White has very good compensation for the “isolator” in the form of active pieces.

If you don't like Panov's attack, you can choose a different move order.

English beginning - 3rd option

You can go to c4 with the knight f6. White immediately loses the opportunity to go to e4.

English beginning - option No. 3

The result is actually the same position as in the Queen's Gambit.

English beginning - 4th option

Of course, if White plays d3 on his second move, then e5 would be a good move.

Good day, dear friend!

It is unlikely that you will find at least one strong player who has not studied the English beginning of chess. If you play black, you will have to respond somehow if your opponent plays 1.с2-с4.

And if you have White, you must admit that sometimes you want to avoid the beaten opening paths and play “for understanding,” especially if your opponent plays something you don’t like.

What is an English beginning?

In the English opening there are much fewer long forced variations, the cost of a mistake is not as high as, for example, in openings. And fundamental revaluations of positions do not occur so often.

The English opening is not as fundamental an opening as, for example, the Queen's Gambit and stands apart from fashionable opening trends. Nevertheless, it is very popular.

In previous years it was used by Botvinnik, Spassky, Petrosyan. The English opening was seriously tested in the matches of two K. And even in modern times, “English” discussions arise from time to time with the participation of Kramnik, Nakamura, Topalov, Ivanchuk.

The peculiarity of the English beginning is that permutations of moves are often allowed. For example, White's first move could be 1.Nf3.

Another feature is that the English opening often flows into other openings. For example 1.c4 Nf6 2.Kc3 e6 3.d4 Cb4- On the desk .

There are about 15 different systems in the English beginning.

In order not to completely confuse you with lengthy arguments and not to inflate the article to indecent proportions, I propose today to consider one system called “dragon in the first hand.”

Dragon in first hand

1.c4 e5 2.Kc3 Kf6 3.g3

As you can see, the board is a mirror image of the Sicilian dragon variant. Of course, with the difference that White has an extra tempo.

Most common black continuations 3…c6, 3…Bb4, 3…d5

a) 3…c6

White most often plays in response 4.d4, 4.Cg2 And 4.Kf3

4.d4

It seems the most logical, since the move Ks6 not yet possible. But only for now.

The sides' chances are approximately equal.

4.Cg2

Whites allow the formation of a center.

Example option:

White is behind in development, but he has an extra pawn and no obvious weaknesses.

Gurgenidze – Panteleev 1978

4.Kf3

With White's advantage. Najdorf–Rosetto 1978

b) 3…Bb4

The ideas behind this bishop attack are similar to the Nimzowitsch Defense.

4.Cg2 0-0

Whites answer most often 5.Kf3 And 5.e4

5.Kf3

With equality. Larsen – Tal, 1979

5.e4

With an idea Kge2, after which bishop b4 is out of work.

The game is equal.

c) 3…d5

4.cd K:d5 5.Cg2

With a color change on the board there is an “early” dragon. However, Black does not have time to play c5, like White in the Maroczy system.

However, Black has a choice:

5…Ke7.5…K:с3, 5…Kb6. Worse 5… c6 or 5…Ce6– see the error section.

5…Ne7

Example option:

White has the best game. Ulman – Taimanov 1982

5…K:с3

White has the initiative on the queenside.

5…Kb6

White has a slight advantage. Hübner – Adorjan 1985

As you can see, in the “dragon in the first hand” White does not give Black the opportunity to play the same way as White plays in the “Sicilian Dragon”: long castling and attack on the king.

Also, Black does not have time to “squeeze White with the move s7-s5 as in the Maroczi system in the early dragon.

In general, Black has good chances to equalize, but he should play carefully.

Common mistakes and pitfalls

A typical mistake in this variation is to play for black by analogy with how they play for white in the dragon variation in the Sicilian.

White has an obvious advantage. They play e4 and d5, getting a strong passed pass.

Black has a difficult position.

Another example:

Black suffers losses.

What are the ideas of the English beginning?

I would note the following:

• The ability to avoid beaten paths and forced options. Drag your opponent into formations unfamiliar to him and outplay him.
• The ability to move to the opening you want by rearranging moves.
• An opportunity to avoid openings that are undesirable in a given game.

Let’s talk a little more about this third point.

Your humble servant does not like to play the Grunfeld Defense with White. The English opening avoids this opening. 1.с4 Kf6 2. Kc3 g6 3.e4- voila. Blacks must play King's Indian.

The Slavic defense is similar. If black on 1.с4 answer 1…s6, I'm playing 2.е4 and if 2….d5, That 3.ed cd 4.d4. Learned? Panov's attack in the defense of Caro-kann. The opponent is often not ready for such metamorphoses.

I believe that, having placed the pieces, you can easily figure out on your own how after the move 1.с4 you can avoid encountering such openings as the Nimzo-Rich Defense, the New Indian Defense, and various gambits such as the Budapest or Albin.

Of course, it is difficult to play the accepted Queen's Gambit with this order of moves for Black.

In conclusion:

If you are serious about your chess career, studying English, in my opinion, is a promising endeavor. It contains a huge number of little-explored, “creative” positions and paths.

This is where the eyes of leading players will be directed as the fundamental openings in chess are finally studied and analyzed from cover to cover.

Sample batches:

1.Nakamura - Wang Hao

2012, 45th Biel GM, 0:1

2. Kramnik - Anand

2013, Zuerich Chess Challenge, 1:0

3. Nakamura - Howell

2011, 3rd London Chess Classic, 1:0

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