English Opening

English Opening is a chess opening with the ECO code A10. It goes 1. c4. White opens with 1. c4 (the English move). After 1 move 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

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 1... e5, 1... Nf6, 1... c6, 1... c5, 1... e6.

About the English Opening

White starts with 1.c4, controlling d5 from the side. It is flexible and often leads to slow, strategic games.

• White often fianchettoes with g3 and Bg2 to aim the bishop down the long diagonal.
• Against 1...e5 it is like a Sicilian with colours reversed and an extra tempo for White.
• White fights on the queenside with b4-b5 and the open c-file.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the English Opening course lesson.

Related openings

• Continues with: English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense – adds 1... f5
• Continues with: English Opening: Anglo-Lithuanian Variation – adds 1... Nc6
• Continues with: English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense – adds 1... d5
• Continues with: English Opening: Great Snake Variation – adds 1... g6
• Continues with: English Opening: Jaenisch Gambit – adds 1... b5
• Continues with: English Opening: Myers Defense – adds 1... g5
• Continues with: English Opening: Caro-Kann Defensive System – adds 1... c6
• Continues with: English Opening: Agincourt Defense – adds 1... e6
• Related line: English Opening: Achilles-Omega Gambit (1. c4 Nf6 2. e4)
• Related line: English Opening: Adorjan Defense (1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5)
• Related line: English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense (1. c4 f5)
• Related line: English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense, Hickmann Gambit (1. c4 f5 2. e4)
• Related line: English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Variation, Chabanon Gambit (1. c4 f5 2. Nf3 d6 3. e4)
• Related line: English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Variation, Ferenc Gambit (1. c4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4)

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