Four Knights: 4.g3 Bb4 is variation 1 of 6 in the Against the English: 1...e5 course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A29). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 …. Against the fianchetto Black pins the c3 knight, castles and plays ...Re8. After ...Bxc3 and ...e4 Black trades the d4 knight and builds a firm centre with ...d5 and ...c6. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. c4 – The English Opening. White fights for the d5 square from the side.
1... e5 – Black takes the centre with the king's pawn. This is a Sicilian with the colours reversed.
2. Nc3 – White develops and adds a second guard to d5.
2... Nf6 – Black develops and also looks at d5 and e4.
3. Nf3 – White develops and attacks the e5 pawn.
3... Nc6 – Black defends e5. This is the Four Knights English.
4. g3 – The main move. The bishop goes to g2 to aim at the long diagonal.
4... Bb4 – The bishop pins the c3 knight. That knight is the main guard of d5.
5. Bg2 – White finishes the fianchetto.
5... O-O – Black castles and gets the king safe first.
6. O-O – White castles too.
6... Re8 – The rook supports the e5 pawn and prepares to push it to e4.
7. d3 – White covers e4 and opens the c1 bishop.
7... Bxc3 – Black gives the bishop for the knight. White's pawns on the c-file are doubled.
8. bxc3 – White takes back toward the centre.
8... e4 – Now the pawn jumps forward and hits the f3 knight.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
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