English Opening · A10

King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d3 a6

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. c4 fights for d5 without committing the centre pawns: White often fianchettoes and plays a reversed Sicilian with an extra tempo.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the English Opening.
• 1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Great Snake Variation.
• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance.

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