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Chess Opening Theory/1. c4/1...Nf6/2. Nc3/2...e6

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. c4 | 1...Nf6 | 2. Nc3
English Opening
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white pawnd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkb1r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/2P5/2N5/PP1PPPPP/R1BQKBNR w

Moves: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6

English Opening

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2...e6

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A flexible second move by black reaching a Nimzo-Indian or Queen's Indian defence setup is a possibility for black with good prospects as pinning the white knight at c3 weakens white's grip over the d5 square and threatens doubled pawns, not to mention that since white has not yet moved his d-pawn black might as well get a lead in development.

Black should be careful about this move however as white has the option of playing 3.e4 a move that leads to the ultra sharp Mikenas Carls variation where black will require very accurate play in order to stay alive.

And last but not least 3.Nf3 will lead to the more tactical lines of the symmetrical English after 3...c5 and a fight over the d4 and d5 squares will develop.

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6
3 4 5
Mikenas Variation e4
d5		 e5
d4		 exf6
dxc3		 &
d4
Bb4

to 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3
English, Symmetrical Nf3
c5

to 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3

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Wikipedia has related information at English Opening

References

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  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
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