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English 1.c4

English 1.c4

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EDMONTON ALBERTA

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Anyone care to talk about this opeing? provide some analysis of common lines... common themes?

I am starting to play it, just to test the waters abit... I know it can transpose quite easily into Queen Gambit positions but I would like to try and avoid this and play into something with a center pawn advance, opening up the game.

9

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I haven't played this opening much but here are two good places to start researching the English:

http://www.eudesign.com/chessops/engo-app.htm

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=2&move=1.5&moves=c4&nodes=2

G

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I like to play 1.b3 and then switch into an English System via 2.Bb2 3.e3 4.c4 5.a3 (taking control of b5 so white can play Qc2) 6.Qc2 or d3 creating a mini center like (typical to Reti system). Both (d3 and Qc2) moves are aimed to gain the control of "e4" square, [edit: to prevent black playing e5-e4] preparing the safe development of the King's knight. (Nd2 and Nc3 can be played for further control of the "e4" square if needed.)

You can play around with the move order.

However, I found this opening to be a little passive. Direct e4! is better in my understanding of chess.

z

127.0.0.1

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I highly recommend Tony Kostens book The Dynamic English.

p

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Originally posted by GinoJ
I like to play 1.b3 and then switch into an English System via 2.Bb2 3.e3 [b]4.c4 5.a3 (taking control of b5 so white can play Qc2) 6.Qc2 or d3 creating a mini center like (typical to Reti system). Both (d3 and Qc2) moves are aimed to gain the control of "e4" square, [edit: to prevent black playing e5-e4] preparing the safe development of the King's knigh ...[text shortened]... s opening to be a little passive. Direct e4! is better in my understanding of chess.[/b]
I like to play b3 I usually get a position that i can play and understand rather than winning. In many ways I prefer this, I can make mistakes and still not be blown away.

I don't have a great understanding of english/reti systems and it hinders me in some lines.

I also play e4 if I know my opponent. But for me playing e4 can be like walking into a minefield.

G

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Originally posted by petrosianpupil
I like to play b3 I usually get a position that i can play and understand rather than winning. In many ways I prefer this, I can make mistakes and still not be blown away.

I don't have a great understanding of english/reti systems and it hinders me in some lines.

I also play e4 if I know my opponent. But for me playing e4 can be like walking into a minefield.
I found b3 to be a safe opening with no surprises. Gary Kasparov's My Great Predecessors Volume 4 on Fischer, pgs: 344,352,364 explains this opening and how it can lead to a slow paced, manouevering game unlike e4 open games.

z

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Originally posted by petrosianpupil
I like to play b3 I usually get a position that i can play and understand rather than winning. In many ways I prefer this, I can make mistakes and still not be blown away.

I don't have a great understanding of english/reti systems and it hinders me in some lines.

I also play e4 if I know my opponent. But for me playing e4 can be like walking into a minefield.
I've started playing 1. e4 again recently.The major difference is that c4 gives me a solid middlegame, but e4 gives me winning chances.

K
Chess Warrior

Riga

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Originally posted by GinoJ
I like to play 1.b3 and then switch into an English System via 2.Bb2 3.e3 [b]4.c4 5.a3 (taking control of b5 so white can play Qc2) 6.Qc2 or d3 creating a mini center like (typical to Reti system). Both (d3 and Qc2) moves are aimed to gain the control of "e4" square, [edit: to prevent black playing e5-e4] preparing the safe development of the King's knigh ...[text shortened]... s opening to be a little passive. Direct e4! is better in my understanding of chess.[/b]
This scheme was used by 9th world champion Tigran Petrosian.

Examples:

[Event "URS"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Petrosian Tigran"]
[Black "Balashov Yury"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1.c4 e5 2.b3 Nc6 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.e3 d5
5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 Bd6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.Nf3 Qe7
9.Bd3 Kh8 10.Be4 Nb6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.d3 Bd7
13.Nbd2 f5 14.e4 fxe4 15.dxe4 Rf4 16.Qc3 Re8
17.O-O c5 18.Kh1 Bc6 19.Rae1 Nd7 20.Ng1 Nf6
21.f3 Nh5 22.g4 1-0

[Event "It ( cat. 15 )"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1981.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "T Petrosian"]
[Black "G Sosonko"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. c4 e5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. e3 Be7 5. a3 O-O 6. Qc2 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5
8. Nf3 Bf6 9. d3 g6 10. Nbd2 Bg7 11. Rc1 g5 12. Nc4 Qe7 13. b4 a6
14. Nfd2 f5 15. Be2 g4 16. Nb3 Kh8 17. Nca5 Nxa5 18. Nxa5 Qf7 19. O-O c6
20. Nc4 Qe7 21. Rfe1 Bd7 22. Bf1 Nc7 23. Nb6 Rad8 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Rxc5
Ne6 26. Rxe5 Bxe5 27. Bxe5+ Kg8 28. d4 Be8 29. Nc4 b5 30. Nd6 Bd7
31. Rc1 Ng5 32. Nb7 Rc8 33. Bd3 Ra8 34. Kf1 Be6 35. Bf4 Nf7 36. Ke2 Bd5
37. Bxf5 Ne5 38. Bxe5 Rxf5 39. Nd6 Rff8 40. e4 Bc4+ 41. Nxc4 bxc4
42. Rxc4 a5 43. Bd6 Rfe8 44. e5 axb4 45. Bxb4 1-0

G

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Originally posted by Korch
This scheme was used by 9th world champion Tigran Petrosian.

Examples:

[Event "URS"]
[Site "URS"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Petrosian Tigran"]
[Black "Balashov Yury"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1.c4 e5 2.b3 Nc6 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.e3 d5
5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 Bd6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.Nf3 ...[text shortened]... 2. Rxc4 a5 43. Bd6 Rfe8 44. e5 axb4 45. Bxb4 1-0
Yes, exactly and Kasparov talks about it an his book. (Also Nimzovisch if I remember correctly)

Diet Coke
Forum Vampire

Sidmouth, Uk

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Kasparov used c4 when he needed to beat Karpov to retain his World Title.

p

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Originally posted by GinoJ
I found b3 to be a safe opening with no surprises. Gary Kasparov's My Great Predecessors Volume 4 on Fischer, pgs: 344,352,364 explains this opening and how it can lead to a slow paced, manouevering game unlike e4 open games.
Yes i really liked the way fischer played this opening. I have read through Kaspy's notes, great stuff!

I tried some of these ideas in a tournament and had my best ever performances with white. Beat 3 player rated above me and only one had any resistance.

Shame I had to play black as well!

G

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3 edits
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Originally posted by petrosianpupil
Yes i really liked the way fischer played this opening. I have read through Kaspy's notes, great stuff!

I tried some of these ideas in a tournament and had my best ever performances with white. Beat 3 player rated above me and only one had any resistance.

Shame I had to play black as well!
Because people think you are stupid to play moves like b3, Qc2, a3. However, each help white to develep efficiently, safely and systematically, if not quickly.

It is very unorthodox.

[edit] I like how you deprive your opponent from all agressive moves he has in hand 😀


You have to play a lot of prophylaxis moves, which makes the opening very creative and original.

...and note white does not pass the 3rd rank the whole time in the opening.

It's a humble opening IMO.

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