Reversed Sicilian: Four Knights with 4.g3 Bb4 is variation 1 of 6 in the English Opening course, a intermediate opening course for White (ECO A29). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 …. Black pins the c3 knight and gains space with ...e4. White accepts doubled c-pawns for the bishop pair and breaks with f3 and d3, a line played in several Kasparov-Karpov world championship games. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. c4 – The English: takes control of d5 and prepares Nc3, keeping the e- and d-pawns flexible.
1... e5 – Black takes central space at once, giving a reversed Sicilian where White is a tempo up.
2. Nc3 – Develops and adds a second guard of d5 and e4.
2... Nf6 – Develops, attacks e4 and prepares ...d5 or ...Bb4.
3. Nf3 – Develops and attacks the e5 pawn, so Black must spend a move defending it.
3... Nc6 – Defends e5 and completes the four-knights setup.
4. g3 – Prepares Bg2 to pressure d5 and the long diagonal, the most popular plan here.
4... Bb4 – Pins the c3 knight, which defends e4, and prepares ...e4 to chase the f3 knight.
5. Bg2 – Completes the fianchetto; the bishop eyes d5 and the queenside along the long diagonal.
5... O-O – Black castles before starting central action.
6. O-O – White also castles; the king on g1 is well protected by the bishop on g2.
6... e4 – Gains space and drives the f3 knight from its good square.
7. Ng5 – The most active retreat: the knight eyes the e4 pawn and prepares f3 or d3 to attack it.
7... Bxc3 – Removes the knight that attacks e4 and doubles White's c-pawns.
8. bxc3 – Recaptures toward the centre and opens the b-file for the a1 rook.
8... Re8 – Defends the e4 pawn a second time so it does not fall to Ngxe4.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
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