The English is a flank opening beginning 1.c4 (ECO A10). Rather than occupying the centre with a pawn straight away, White controls d5 from the wing and keeps the set-up as flexible as possible.
It is famous for the range of plans available and for transposing constantly into other systems: given the chance it turns into a Sicilian «with an extra tempo», a Queen's Gambit or a closed Indian structure. This is a universal player's weapon.
The English is valued for its strategic depth and for the absence of forcing lines - it rewards understanding rather than memory. Botvinnik, Karpov and Carlsen all played it regularly.
Set it up on the board, move the pieces around and copy the FEN - or open the full walkthrough of the opening in a separate article.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
Build your own position in the board editor, read up on the rules of chess or run a tournament on your own positions in the free app.
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