Chess Opening Theory/1. c4/1...e5/2. g3

English Opening
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 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 kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 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 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 white pawnh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 black kingh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 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)
Moves: 1. c4 e5 2. g3

English Opening

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2.g3

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White prepares to fianchetto the king's bishop on the long diagonal by playing 3. Bg2 that will put more pressure on d5 square discourage black from playing pawn to d5. If black is determined to put a pawn d5 they can play 2...c6 leading to the the Reversed Alapin that is the main line of the Alapin Variation being played in reverse: 1. c4 e5 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4. Instead of playing 2... c6 black might play 2... d5 that is a good move that forces white to protect its rook by blocking with 4. Nf3. Unfortunately, a common blunder is to play 4... e4?? that leads to the lost of a pawn with the line 5. Nc3 Qe6 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxe4 or the lost of the queen with the trap 5. Nc3 Qc6 6. e3 exf3?? 7. Bb5 that pins the queen to the king by sacrificing a knight.

Theory Table

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

1.c4 e5 2.g3
2 3
English ...
Nf6
Nc3
 
English ...
Nc6
Nc3
 
Drill Variation ...
h5
+=

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