10 Openings Every Chess Player Must Memorise
6. English Opening
The English Opening is much simpler than the other entries on
the list, being comprised of just a single move. White plays the move pawn to
C4, giving up main control of the centre of the board. While at first this may
seem to be a blunder, it can lead to a variety of interesting traps anyone
playing black should be aware of.
The most common responses for black are to play pawn to C5, the Symmetrical Defence, or pawn to E5, the Reversed Sicilian Defence. Both of these options are valid, with the Symmetrical Defence creating the most even position between the pair.
If black does decide to play the Symmetrical Defence, then white will most likely play the move king’s side knight to F3. This leads into what is known as the Benoni formation, which leans slightly in whites’ favour. Blacks’ second move here is king’s side knight to F6, followed by white playing pawn to D4. Blacks’ best option is to take on D4, followed by white taking on D4 with the knight.