Opening Overview

English Opening

166 lines
white repertoire

About This Opening

White starts with c4 and usually aims for flexible, transpositional play.

The opening's main value is its characteristic move order, which helps steer the game toward familiar structures and plans.

When studying it, focus on the first forcing decisions, the main branching points, and the kind of middlegames the opening is designed to reach.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: recognize the key move order early.
  • Learn the first critical branching decisions.
  • Best for players who want a repeatable repertoire line.
  • Understand the resulting pawn structure and piece placement.

Choose a variation

English Opening: King's English, Mazedonisch
A22 5 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
A23 6 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Keres Variation
A23 8 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 c6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Two Knights Variation, Fianchetto Line
A24 6 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 g6
English Opening: Closed, Taimanov Variation
A25 10 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Rb1 Nh6 5. Bg2 Bg7
English Opening: Closed, Taimanov Variation
A25 12 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 Nh6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Bremen-Hort Variation
A25 12 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 Be6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Closed System
A25 9 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3
English Opening: King's English Variation, Hungarian Attack
A25 9 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Rb1
English Opening: King's English Variation, Reversed Closed Sicilian
A25 4 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6
English Opening: King's English Variation, Taimanov Variation
A25 8 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7
English Opening: King's English Variation, Botvinnik System
A26 11 plies
1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. e4
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