1.c4 .. Thematic - anyone interested??

Any interest in beginning a themed tournament based on the English opening. There are a couple of English specialists around the sight - maybe 3/7 format?

Originally posted by sastorey
Any interest in beginning a themed tournament based on the English opening. There are a couple of English specialists around the sight - maybe 3/7 format?

I could use some experience with this opening. I have only played it once or twice but may give me a chance to gain some experience as to how to play it. Get's my rec.

I am attempting to learn enough about the english to use it in OTB tournaments, so this would be an excellent opportuninty. Any restrictions on how it is met? c4 c6 almost always transposes into the slav (you can also transpose into other d-pawn openings easily) which is not desirable, but you still have symetric openings (..c5) and e5 which are both valid responses to c4. Finally is it allowable to play NF3 first to dissuade 1... e5?

I have never played a themed tournament so maybe these are questions asked from naivity, but please enlighten me.

Any restrictions on how it is met? is it allowable to play NF3 first to dissuade 1... e5?
I have never played a themed tournament so maybe these are questions asked from naivity, but please enlighten me.[/b]

A tournament with a thematic opening starts from a position which is NOT the starting position (in order to avoid a different opening). The thread title indicates that this tournament would start with the position that arises after 1.c4.

Originally posted by jfkjmh
A tournament with a thematic opening starts from a position which is NOT the starting position (in order to avoid a different opening). The thread title indicates that this tournament would start with the position that arises after 1.c4.

I figured that was the case, but more to the point, how far are you going to take it? Just 1. c4? I can easily transpose into a d4 opening after that.

Originally posted by zebano
I figured that was the case, but more to the point, how far are you going to take it? Just 1. c4? I can easily transpose into a d4 opening after that.

To ensure no transposition can occur I propose the following starting position.



This is obtained by the moves:
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.g3 Be7 7.Bg2 Be6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bd2 Qd7 10.Qc1 f6 11.Re1 Nb6 12.Ne4 Nd4 13.Nc5 Bxc5 14.Qxc5 Na4 15.Qc1 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 c6 17.Qc2 Nb6 18.a4 Bd5 19.e4 Be6 20.a5 Nc8 21.Be3 Nd6 22.Bc5 Rfd8 23.d4 exd4 24.Bxd4 Nb5 25.Be3 Nd4 26.Bxd4 Qxd4 27.a6 b6 28.Qxc6 Bb3 29.Bd1 Bxd1 30.Raxd1 Qxd1 31.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 32.Kg2 Rad8 33.h4 h6 34.Kh3 R1d2 35.b3 Rxf2 36.Qc7 Rdd2 37.h5 Ra2 38.Qxa7 Ra3 39.b4 Kh7 40.Qxb6 Rff3 41.Qd6 Rfb3 42.b5 Ra5 43.e5 fxe5 44.Qg6+ Kh8 45.Qc6 Rbxb5 46.a7 Rxa7

I believe this will yield an interesting tournament.

Well Xanthos idea aside, it looks like we got our wish!

Yes, this would have been much more interesting. I wish I'd thought of it.

Game 1544876
Game 1544877
Transpositions.