What is English opening?
The '''English Opening''', usually just called ''the English'', is a [[chess]] opening for White. It has become the third most popular opening move, after 1.e4 and 1.d4. The opening was developed by the [[English people|English]] master [[Howard Staunton]] and played in his match against Saint-Amant.<ref>Hooper D. and Whyld K. 1992. ''The Oxford companion to chess''. Oxford.</ref><sup>p124</sup> {{Chess diagram small | tright | Variation 1 <!-- a b c d e f g h 8-->|rd|__|__|qd|__|rd|kd|__<!-- 7-->|__|pd|pd|__|__|pd|bd|__<!-- 6-->|__|__|nd|pd|bd|nd|pd|pd<!-- 5-->|__|pl|__|__|pd|__|__|__<!-- 4-->|__|__|pl|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 3-->|__|__|nl|pl|__|nl|pl|__<!-- 2-->|__|__|__|__|pl|pl|bl|pl<!-- 1-->|__|rl|bl|ql|__|rl|kl|__|= | }} * 1. c4 As a first move, this may transpose into a Queen's Pawn Game: 1.c4 Nf6 2.d4. That would not be the English opening. The English is a flexible system that includes some or all of these moves: # Nc3 # Bishop [[List of chess terms|fianchettoed]] on g2 # Nf3 or Ne2 # 0-0 # d3 # Rb1 followed by b2-b4-b5 {{Chess diagram small | tright | Variation 2 <!-- a b c d e f g h 8-->|rd|__|bd|qd|kd|bd|__|rd<!-- 7-->|pd|pd|pd|__|__|pd|pd|pd<!-- 6-->|__|__|nd|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 5-->|__|__|__|nd|pd|__|__|__<!-- 4-->|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 3-->|__|__|__|pl|__|nl|pl|__<!-- 2-->|pl|pl|__|__|pl|pl|bl|pl<!-- 1-->|rl|nl|bl|ql|kl|__|__|rl|= | }} {{Chess diagram small | tright | Variation 3 <!-- a b c d e f g h 8-->|rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd|__|rd<!-- 7-->|pd|pd|pd|__|__|pd|pd|pd<!-- 6-->|__|__|__|__|__|nd|__|__<!-- 5-->|__|__|__|pd|pl|__|__|__<!-- 4-->|__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 3-->|__|__|nl|__|__|__|__|__<!-- 2-->|pl|pl|__|pl|__|pl|pl|pl<!-- 1-->|rl|__|bl|ql|kl|bl|nl|rl|= | }} * Variation 1. 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Rb1 a5 9.a3 h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 Be6 12.b5 This sequence shows the system fully in operation. White operates in the centre and Q-side; Black operates more on the K-side. * Variation 2. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6