English Opening

Improve your English Opening it's op literally!

The English Opening is probably a mistake in your case. First off, you cannot even force an English every game and must also understand the Reti or certain Queen Pawn Openings. Now if you already understand the Closed Reti and Reti-Slav lines (1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 or 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6) or the Slav, Semi-Slav, and QGD, along with, in either case, the Kings Indian and Dutch, you might be ok. Otherwise, you are going to have complete nightmare figuring out all the transpositions.

Now you might be thinking "But I am playing 1.c4, not 1.Nf3." Yes, by playing 1.c4, you avoid certain lines of the Reti, like 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 and now both 2...dxc4 and 2...d4 are avoided, BUT, consider the following:

• After 1...c5 or 1...e5, you are in an English.
• After 1...e6 or 1...c6, now what? If 2.Nc3, then 2...d5 and White has nothing better, due to ...d4 coming, than 3.d4 or 3.cxd5 and 4.d4, transposing to QP openings. This is where the QGD and Slav come into play. If 2.Nf3 d5, you are now either in a Reti (3.b3, 3.g3, etc) or a QP opening (3.d4)
• After 1...f5, there is nothing better than transposing to a Dutch, whether you play d4 move 2 or move 6.
• Against Kings Indian setups, White winds up with nothing unless he plays d4 at some point, most often leading to the Fianchetto Kings Indian.

I should also add that trying to play it as a system is a huge mistake as there is no one setup that works against all responses.

For example, the Botvinnik Setup, with c4, Nc3, g3, Bg2, e4, and Nge2, works well when Black has played ...e5 and fianchettos his dark squared bishop, like a reversed closed sicilian. But in lines with 1...c5, leaving the long diagonal open, or 1...e5 with an early ...Bc5, the weakness on d4 is a major problem with Black's Bishop being active.

Closing your eyes and playing 1.c4, 2.g3, 3.Bg2, and 4.Nc3 is also a huge mistake. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2? f5! 4.Nc3 Nf6! and Black is AT WORST equal and is actually probably slightly better. That g2 square is often an escape for the Knight. ...Nc6 should ALWAYS be answered by Nc3 in those 1...e5 systems. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3! f5 4.Nf3! Nf6 5.d4 e4 6.Nh4! (Threatening Nxf5) and now if say, ...d6, we see now why Bg2 is a mistake. Black can play ...g5 and trap the knight. So 7.e3, developing the Bisgop to e2 or d3 instead, and if ...g5, then Ng2, followed by h4, looking to entice ...gxh4 or ...g4, where then f4 is a beautiful outpost for the Knight.

So as you can see, the English Opening is only good for those that can deal with many transpositions and understands a lot of different pawn structures.

To play the English successfully, you must be well-versed in not only the English, but the Kings Indian, Dutch, and then either all forms of Declining the Queen's Gambit, or all forms of the Reti Opening EXCEPT 2...dxc4 or 2...d4 lines.

#3 thanks for ur detailed response. Imma wait and see if I prefer the 'English' type openings.

If you don’t want to play the best move in all of chess 1.e4, Than I guess you can play the alternative.

What about playing 1.e3?

I used to hate e4 too. I felt it was so rehearsed.

Then I started to experiment with odd sidelines in e4...

Now I'm lightening up to it again. Infact I like it alot. But I would not like it if I had to stick with the main lines.

1. e4 is an extremely rich opening, you can play it many different ways. If you hate e4 - it's probably because you haven't figured out the way to play it which suites your style. You can reach positions that defy algorithmic play, and are more idea-based, if you look for them. And it's also just alot of fun.

Same thing with 1. d4 - if you don't like the KID... play the Trompowsky, you will avoid the KID. There are other ways you can avoid the KID as well, like playing the Torre or Colle. But Trompowsky you won't go wrong.

But I'd actually recommend you do mess around with the English Opening. Because you don't have to play the objectively best mainline theory if you don't want to... and experimentation is how you'll figure out what you like. Experimentation is a good thing at your level. Don't commit to one opening. If you're dissatisfied... use that as energy to try something else. Just play the Botvinnik to avoid the KID.

However the English can be a bit complex, but hanging pawns has a good free tutorial on it, and there are also great chessable courses. Simon Williams has a good one. Both those series will help you to avoid mainline d4 theory.

But if you want a good line against the KID.. the saemisch is a good one.

You don't always have to be too afraid of mainline theory, though. The main lines are usually filled with interesting opportunities for a creative player, you just have to go a bit deeper to look for them.