Chess openings - English beginning. English start English start for black
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Zukertort, Nimzowitsch, Rubinstein, Reti, Capablanca, Botvinnik contributed to the development of many variations of this opening. The English opening was often used in tournaments and matches by Smyslov, Polugaevsky, Larsen, Petrosyan, Tal, Portisch, Korchnoi, Karpov, Ullman, Ljuboevich, Andersson, Miles, Gort, Hübner, Gulko, Shuba, Kasparov, Ivanchuk, Kramnik. The latest developments and ideas in English origin belong to Michal Gurevich, Mikhail Marin, Lars Carlsson, Anthony Kosten and others.
The English opening is a godsend for the escaper: this opening allows the chess player who prefers to play closed openings with White to avoid many popular and deeply developed openings. An important fact is that White can prevent those defenses that are well studied and practiced by the opponent.
What openings can be avoided by abandoning 1. d2-d4 in favor of 1. c2-c4?
Queen's Gambit Accepted. Lately This opening brings good results for Black and is found at the highest level, for example, Anand often uses it. The move 1. c2-c4 does not allow Black to play the accepted queen in a normal edition, for example after 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4, an attempt to accept the gambit by 3... dc is unsuccessful due to White’s response 4. e4!, which leads to unprofitable for black variations of this opening.
Chigorin's Defense and Albin's Counter-Gambit. Despite the traditionally bad reputation, these openings are found even at the level of top-class grandmasters. The largest modern apologist for the Chigorin Defense and the Counter Gambit, Albina A. Morozevich, even has a positive balance as Black.
Budapest Gambit.
Slavic defense. One of the most popular, hard-to-break modern openings. Fans of the “Slav” often respond to 1. c4 with 1. c6, trying to reduce the game to well-studied patterns after 2. d4. However, White has the opportunity to move the game towards the Caro-Kann Defense (2. e4) or stick to the main lines of the Reti opening.
Grunfeld Defense. The variations of this opening are developed extremely deeply, many grandmasters are looking for ways to gain an advantage, but Black has counterplay everywhere. The English opening gives White several opportunities to escape the Grunfeld Defense.
Nimzowitsch Defense. The name "anti-Nimzowitsch" speaks for itself - White avoids the main defensive options.
New Indian Defense and Bogolyubov Defense.
Benoni Defense, Modern-Benoni, Volga Gambit.
Dutch defense.
« Tango» 1. d4 Kf6 2. c4 Nc6!? This unusual debut has become popular over the past ten years. It is not easy for White to refute Black's strategy. The opening occurs in competitions of the highest rank and brings black good practical results.
English Defense 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6!? The defense was developed by a group of English chess players led by E. Miles. The natural reaction to Black's somewhat slow strategy is 3. e4. However, this move brings White more grief than joy. Black has amazing counterplay resources against White's center. The statistics of the variant are also in favor of Black. Therefore, strong chess players prefer 3. a3!?, although there is no need to talk about a significant advantage for White here. See the book by I. Odessky “The Impossible Beginning.” The English opening allows White to avoid this opening.
Polish Defense, St. George defense. 1. d4 b5?! 2. e4 a6. The defense is a variation of Sokolsky's opening in the second hand. It would seem that black, who from the very first moves neglects the center in favor of flank operations, should be easily punished. However, not all so simple. In this opening, playing with white, the strongest chess players in the world sometimes suffered defeats, for example, in 1983, A. Karpov lost to E. Miles.
Untitled debut 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4!? Many strong grandmasters played this way, for example, Psakhis, Eingorn, Short, Korchnoi. A flexible opening that allows you to vary plans and move to other openings, and the statistics for Black are not bad. The English opening gives White the opportunity to avoid this opening as well.
King's Indian Defense. Generally speaking, White relatively rarely avoids this opening. But move 1. c2-c4! provides them with such an opportunity.
Advantages and disadvantages of the English beginning
The main advantage of the English opening compared to the move 1. d4 is that in this opening it is easier to build the game not from Black’s point of view, but from White’s point of view. You can easily prevent your opponent from playing his favorite positions. The only significant disadvantage of the opening is that Black can immediately respond with 1... e5. According to many chess players, after 1. c4 e5 White's chances of gaining an advantage are extremely small. However, according to others [ which ones?] chess players, Black should not respond to White's move c4 with e5, because in the Sicilian defense with e4 c5, Black, as a rule, is all right, but here the same thing with a change of color, while White has an extra tempo [ ] . Nevertheless, grandmasters, fearing the answer 1... e5, play the English opening with a different order of moves: 1. Kf3 Kf6, and only now - 2. c4. However, 1. Kf3 has another disadvantage: Black can answer 1... d5, which means White cannot avoid the accepted Queen’s Gambit or the Slavic Defense. And in the orthodox Queen's Gambit, early Kf3, as is known, makes it easier for Black to defend.
When playing 1. c4, should we be afraid of the immediate response 1... e5? Let's look at the statistics. If the move 1... e5 was so dangerous for White, most grandmasters would respond to the move 1. c4 in exactly this way. However, the most popular answer here is 1... Kf6. Further. After 1. c4 Kf6 2. Nc3 the answer 2... e5 is in fourth place in popularity, behind such continuations as 2... g6, 2... e6 and 2... c5. This means that those playing black prefer other defenses to systems with e7-e5.
The move 1. c2-c4 is popular in world championship matches: just remember that Korchnoi in the matches against Karpov opened most of the games by moving the bishop pawn. In his match with Karpov in 1987, Kasparov chose the English opening as his main opening weapon. He did not change this move in the last, 24th game of the match, when he needed victory. It is curious that in the 23rd game Karpov was in a similar situation: he needed to win. He chose 1. c2-c4 and achieved victory.
The English beginning is not very popular among amateurs, even high level. The reason is simple. There is a high chance of “boring” positions arising here; it is not so easy to start an intense tactical fight. In this opening, the winner is the one who surpasses his opponent in positional understanding, the art of maneuvering, and the ability to sense the subtlest nuances of emerging positions. The English opening is not a debut for reckless people, not for those who like sparkling attacks. You won't get far here with tactics and calculation alone. It seems that as research into closed openings increases, they will become more and more difficult to play: coming up with something new in the Grunfeld or Nimzowitsch defenses is already becoming difficult today. In the English beginning, events, as a rule, do not develop so rapidly, the pawn structure is not determined immediately, and there are much fewer forced options developed before the endgame. This means that there are more playing positions in it, so the future belongs to the English principle.
Queen's Gambit Overview of the main systems
Good day, dear friend!
It is unlikely that you will find at least one strong player, who would not have studied the English beginning in 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:
Whites 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 allows you to avoid 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 Nimzowitsch Defense, the New Indian Defense, different gambits like 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. In him great amount 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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– 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 white elephant. 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.
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.04.05.2022Backgammon
