Anglo-Indian: Mikenas-Carls (3.e4 c5) is variation 4 of 6 in the English Opening course, a intermediate opening course for White (ECO A19). It runs 25 moves and begins 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 c5 4. e5 Ng8 …. Against 1...Nf6 and 2...e6, White plays 3.e4 to take the centre at once. After 3...c5 4.e5 Ng8 White gambits the e5 pawn for a big lead in development and control of d6. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. c4 – Takes control of d5 and keeps options open.
1... Nf6 – Develops and stops e4 for now, staying flexible.
2. Nc3 – Develops and prepares e4 to take the centre.
2... e6 – Prepares ...d5 or ...Bb4, hinting at a Nimzo-Indian or Queen's Gambit.
3. e4 – The Mikenas-Carls Attack: White takes the centre at once and avoids Nimzo-Indian and Queen's Gambit setups.
3... c5 – Black hits d4 at once, getting ready for ...Nc6 and ...cxd4.
4. e5 – Gains space and drives the f6 knight back to its starting square.
4... Ng8 – The only safe square; Black's knight will come back via c6 or e7.
5. Nf3 – Develops and defends the e5 pawn.
5... Nc6 – Develops and attacks the e5 pawn a second time.
6. d4 – Opens the centre while Black is behind in development.
6... cxd4 – Opens the c-file and takes White's central pawn.
7. Nxd4 – Recaptures and offers the e5 pawn as a gambit.
7... Nxe5 – Black grabs the pawn, but his king stays in the centre for a while.
8. Ndb5 – The point of the gambit: the knight aims at d6, which Black's e6 pawn has weakened.
8... a6 – Kicks the knight, but this allows it to jump into d6 with check.
The lesson goes on for 9 more moves, each with its explanation.
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