Why the English Defense is worth training
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Nd2.The English Defense starts with 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6. Black prepares ...Bb7 and invites White to build a broad center with 3.e4. The plan is to attack that center later from the side with pawn breaks like ...c5 and ...f6, while the bishop on b7 presses on e4 down the long diagonal.
Chessmate has an English Defense course for White and an English Defense course for Black. Both courses use the same eight lines, so you can learn the opening from either side of the board.
The broad center sample line
12...fxe5, Black has won back the pawn and opened the f-file.In the sample line, White meets 3...Bb7 with 4.Nd2, which protects e4. Black fianchettoes the other bishop with 4...g6 5.Bd3 Bg7, so both bishops aim at White's center. White develops with 6.Ne2, keeping the f-pawn free, and after 6...Ne7 7.O-O O-O White pushes 8.f4.
Black strikes with 8...c5, and White closes the center with 9.d5. After 9...b5 10.d6, the pawn on d6 is a wedge that cramps Black's queenside, and the knight has to retreat with 10...Nc8. White gains more space with 11.e5, and Black hits back with 11...f6. After 12.cxb5 fxe5, material is level again. White has the advanced pawn on d6, and Black has the open f-file against f4.
The 3...Bb4+ check and the ...d5 break
12...Nbc6, Black's knight and c-pawn both press on d4.Black can also check with 3...Bb4+. White blocks with 4.Bd2, and after 4...Bxd2+ 5.Nxd2 the dark-squared bishops are gone. Black develops with 5...Ne7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Ne2 and then breaks with 7...d5.
After 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Qc2, Black plays 9...Ba6 to trade off White's active bishop. Following 10.e5 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 c5 12.f4 Nbc6, White has kingside space, but the d4-pawn is under fire from Black's knight and c-pawn.
Direct 1...b6 and the ...e5 center
12...Qe7, Black has a solid pawn on e5 against White's queenside space.Black can play 1...b6 before ...e6. After 2.c4 Bb7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Nd7 5.Nf3 e5, Black builds a pawn on e5 instead of attacking the center from the side. Both sides develop with 6.Be2 g6 7.O-O Ngf6 8.Qc2 Bg7, and Black's second bishop lands on the long diagonal.
White resolves the tension with 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5. After 11.Be3 O-O, White gains space on the queenside with 12.c5, and Black answers 12...Qe7, clearing d8 for a rook. The position is balanced, and both sides have clear plans.
White's quieter setups
12.e4, White has castled long and built the broad center.Not every White player allows the broad center on move three. After 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.a3, Black can play 4...f5. White develops with 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bf4, gains kingside space with 7.h4, and castles long before pushing 12.e4.
The courses also cover 3.Nc3 with 4.Bf4, where Black pins the knight with ...Bb4 and later plays ...e5. Against the early 3.a3, Black strikes with ...c5. Against 3.Nf3 and 4.g3, Black trades both bishops and then breaks with ...d5. If White starts with 2.Nf3 and a quiet fianchetto, Black takes on d4 with ...cxd4 and puts pressure on the d4-pawn.
What to train first
Pick the course for the color you play.
- If you face the English Defense as White, start with the English Defense course for White. Learn the broad center sample line first, then the
3...Bb4+check and the direct1...b6order. - If you play the English Defense as Black, start with the English Defense course for Black. Learn the sample line where Black undermines the center with
...c5,...b5, and...f6, then the...d5break after the bishop check. - Whichever side you play, count the attackers on d4 and e4. Most of the early fight is about whether White's broad center holds.
The English Defense rewards patience and well-timed pawn breaks. Train the lines until you know when to support the center and when to strike at it.