English Defense

English Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code A40. It goes 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 4 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
• 2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
• 2... b6 – Black plays the pawn to b6

About the English Defense

Black answers 1.d4 (often with c4) with ...b6, ...e6 and ...Bb7, hitting e4 from afar. It is offbeat but has a clear plan.

• The Bb7 bishop pressures e4 and g2.
• Black often adds ...Bb4+ and ...Qh4 or ...f5 for active play.
• If White builds e4 and d4, Black attacks the centre with pieces.

Related openings

• It extends: Horwitz Defense (1. d4 e6)
• Continues with: English Defense: Perrin Variation – adds 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6
• Continues with: English Defense: Poli Gambit – adds 3. e4 Bb7 4. f3 f5
• Continues with: Queen's Gambit Declined: Alapin Variation – adds 3. Nc3 d5
• Related line: English Defense (1. d4 b6)
• Related line: English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit (1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5)
• Related line: English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted (1. c4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 f5 5. exf5 Nf6)
• Related line: English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Declined (1. c4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 f5 5. d5)
• Related line: English Defense: Perrin Variation (1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6)
• Related line: English Defense: Poli Gambit (1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. f3 f5 5. exf5 Nh6)

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