Forgetting Qa4+
After ...dxc4 the pawn is not lost. Qa4+ and Qxc4 bring it back; chasing it with Na3 costs time.
Opening guide · White, 1.c4
How to play the English Opening
1.c4
The English Opening starts with 1.c4 and builds around a bishop on g2. This guide covers the course’s setup against 1...e6 and ...d5, the most common way to meet it.
- Lines to play
- 5
- Quiz positions
- 6
Learn the English Opening move by move
You play White. Each move is explained before you play it, with an arrow on the board; then you play the line from memory. When the course has more than one good move, every one of them counts.
Key ideas
Pressure on the long diagonal
- g3 and Bg2 aim the bishop at d5 and b7. Every Black plan in the centre has to account for it.
Win back c4 with Qa4+
- If Black takes on c4, Qa4+ and Qxc4 regain the pawn with the queen active.
Choose the centre later
- White can play d4 for an open game or d3 for a slower one, depending on Black’s setup.
Knights around d4
- When Black pushes ...d4, White plays e3 or b4 to undermine the pawn, with knights ready for c4 and e5.
The main lines
Against ...c5: open the centre
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.d4
White exchanges on d5 and plays d4, leaving Black with hanging or isolated pawns.
Classical: ...Be7 and castling
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 c5
Both sides castle; d3 keeps the centre flexible.
Black takes c4: Qa4+
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4 Bc6
The queen check regains the pawn with tempo.
Black pushes ...d4
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 d4 5.O-O Nc6 6.d3 Bc5
White castles and plays d3; the d4 pawn becomes a target later.
Active bishop: ...Bd6
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 c6
White meets the active bishop with d4 and central play.
Find the move
6 positions from the main lines, each with its idea. Your first try counts.
Position 1 of 6
1.c4 e6
The ideaPrepare the fianchetto.
Find the move for White.
Common mistakes
Closing the bishop’s diagonal
An early e4 or d4 that leaves pawns on light squares blunts the g2 bishop. Keep the diagonal open.
Playing without a central plan
The English is flexible, not passive. Decide between d4 and d3 by move eight or so.
Related openings
Frequently asked questions
How do I learn the English Opening?
Play it, one move at a time. The trainer on this page explains each White move before you play it, then asks you to play the line from memory. Read the main lines and traps, test yourself in the quiz, then play it in your games. The English Navigator teaches every line, with spaced review so the moves stay with you.
Is the English Opening good for beginners?
It is fine once you know basic plans. It is more positional than 1.e4, so the ideas matter more than memorised moves.
Does this guide cover 1.c4 e5?
No. It covers 1...e6 and ...d5, as the course does. 1...e5, the Reversed Sicilian, needs a different plan.
How is the English different from the Réti?
The English starts with 1.c4; the Réti with 1.Nf3 and a later c4. They often transpose into each other.
Learn every line of the English Opening
The English Navigator teaches it as a repertoire: 79 lines, a note on every move read aloud, and spaced review so the moves stay with you. The first line is free.
A free account also reviews your games and shows where you left the lines. Sign up