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THE ''Flank Opening'', The English 1...c4
The English 1...c4, Symmetrical Variation
GENERAL INFO
The English is named after an English master, Howard Stauntonthe, in the 19th century, who played it during his 1843 match with Saint-Amant and at London 1851.
INTRODUCTION
The Symmetrical English is seen after the moves 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7. The most common and effective moves are 5. Nf3/ 5. e3/ 5. e4/ a3/ 5. d3. In this Blog Post I'm going to introduce you three of these moves that I think are the best for every level and for every player regardless of their elo rating. Those moves are 5. Nf3/ 5. a3/ 5. e3
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1. 5... Nf3 Systems and Variations
The move 5... Nf3 for white is the most common according to our lichess Database in booth Master and Player levels. It's seems to be the most natural response after black finishes with 4. ... Bg7. Right now this move scores 33% in our Database and 28% in the Masters Database. The approach to this move is different in this two levels.The most popular move for black in our Db (Database) seems to be black completely copying the white side with the move 5. ... Nf6. On the other hand in the MDb (Masters Database) the main move is 5. ... d6. this move in the MDb scores 33% (black is winning more games...).
EXAMPLE GAME (Carlsen, M vs Vachier Lagrave, M )
2. 5... a3 Systems and Variations
The move 5. a3 is mostly played in 1600+ elo by well prepared players and good understanding of the opening they play. In our Db the move 5. a3 scores extremely well, 55% win rate for white but obviously it doesn't guarantees victory or a better position. The most common move for black after 5. a3 is to play still 5. ... Nf6. In the MDb, things are not that different.... the move 5. a3 is the second common continuation but it still scores excellent. As a response to the move 5. a3 they also continue with the previous move 5. ... d6 which scores 29%.
EXAMPLE GAME (PanoSot2104 vs dalonso5)
3. 5... e3 Systems and Variations
The move 5. e3 is it often used as an alternative and it's scores something less than 50%. The chances of a possible draw are much higher now because black can still copy and play the move 5. ... e6 which is the best way to equalize according to our Db. There is actually nothing more to say for the MDb. 5. ... e6 is still the best move and it scores 45% for black.
EXAMPLE GAME (Caruana, F vs Abdusattorov, Nodirbek)
CONCLUSION
Thanks for your attention, see you all in my next Blog Post!
Give the English a try!
Keep calm and play chess!!
@PanoSot2104, Greece
