Opening Overview
English Opening
166 linesAbout 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: Romanishin Gambit
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 a6 4. Bg2 b5
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Keres Defense
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O c5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nc3 Nc6
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. e3
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. e3 d4
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. e3 Nc6
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 b6
English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined, Early b3
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. b3 c5
English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense
1. c4 Nf6