Learn
The big idea
What the English Opening is really about.
A flexible, fianchetto-friendly flank opening. Instead of planting pawns in the middle right away, White controls the centre from the side and fights especially hard for the d5-square. It can transpose into many other structures and often resembles a Sicilian with the colours reversed and an extra tempo, so it rewards understanding over memorization.
- White's plan: Press on d5 with the c-pawn, a knight on c3, and a bishop fianchettoed to g2. Develop flexibly, castle, and keep transpositional options open — expanding on the queenside or breaking in the centre when the moment is right.
- Black's plan: Contest the centre and the d5-square in return — either mirror White symmetrically or grab the centre with ...e5 and play for a reversed Sicilian, developing harmoniously before committing the structure.
Which central square does the English fight hardest to control?
Answer the question to keep going!