English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Declined is a chess opening with the ECO code A40, part of the English Defense family. It goes 1. c4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 f5 5. d5. White opens with 1. c4 (the English move) and Black answers 1... e6. After 9 moves it is Black 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. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
2... b6 – Black plays the pawn to b6
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... Bb7 – Black plays the bishop to b7
4. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
4... f5 – Black plays the pawn to f5
5. d5 – White plays the pawn to d5
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.
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