English Opening · A10

Porcupine Variation

1. c4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 fxe4 4. g4

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it. 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... f5 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Anglo-Dutch Defense.
• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

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