The English opening is a flank opening where White starts with 1.c4. It was recorded at games in the mid-19th century but caught on to popular demand much later.
In the English opening, White does not initially rush to the center but instead launches an attack from the flanks. After 1.c4, which prevents the immediate reaction 1…d5, Black usually responds with 1…e5, 1…Nf6 or 1…c5. Those following the 2024 World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh of India and Ding Liren of China will remember the play 1c4 e5.
Here’s how it looks on the board:
Gukesh vs Ding Liren English opening appearing in game 8 of the World Chess Championship match.
The English opening is solid and flexible and the variations that follow depend on Black’s response. Here are the variations following some popular responses.
Read more: How Gukesh chose to fight rather than settle for a bad position in Game 8 of the World Chess Championship vs. Ding Liren.
Reverse Sicilian (e5)
After White responds with e5 on the opening move it transposes into a Sicilian setup with color reversal and extra tempo for White. Black continues to try to capture the center in successive moves. White then often moves to his kingside bishop’s fiancée
Symmetrical English (c5): Black tries to mirror White’s position and does not try to move to the center immediately. In many cases White continues his flank strategy with 2. Nc3, increasing the pressure on the d5 square. A common follow through for White is g3, with the bishop’s fanchetto and early castling.
Interactive: Game 8 between Gukesh and Ding Liren
You can check out the move by move action from Game 8 between Gukesh and Ding Liren and also play in the interactive below. Scroll down to read our real-time updates from Game 8.
King’s Indian Defense (Nf6)
Nf6, g6, Bg7, 0-0 leads to the King’s Indian Defense setup. If Black then goes to play e5 it can transfer to the reverse Sicilian.
Read more: How Ding Liren was ‘outplayed’ by Gukesh in Game 7, but salvaged a draw in an absolute rollercoaster
Other differences
Other setups are the Grünfeld Defense (.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5), Dutch Defense (1..f5 2.d4) and Queen’s Gambit Declined (1..e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4)). which may depend on Black’s reaction.