English Opening · A38

Symmetrical Variation, Duchamp Variation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O c5 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. d3

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... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Anglo-Indian Defense.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the King's Indian Formation.

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