Learning to play the English Opening

July 11, 2024

White: liumatthew2357 (1078) +9

Black: alexbv077 (1121) -9

Opening: English Opening: King's English Variation

1. c4 e5 2. g3 d5 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 e4 5. Nc3 Qc6 6. Nd4 Qg6 7. Bg2 f5 8. O-O Bd7 9. d3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nge7 11. dxe4 f4 12. Bxf4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Qd2 O-O-O 15. Qc2 Bg4 16. Rfd1 Nb4 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Rd1+ Kc8 19. Qd2 Be7 20. h3 Rd8 21. Qc1 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Be6 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Nxa2 25. Qa4 Qb1+ 26. Kh2 Bd8 27. d6 Qxb2 28. dxc7 Nc3 29. cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 30. Qa5+ b6 31. Qg5+ Kc8 32. Qf5+ Kd8 33. Qf8+ Kd7 34. Qxg7+ Ke8 35. Bc6+ Kd8 36. Qd7# 1-0

1-0 (White won by checkmate)

White Accuracy: 94% / Black Accuracy: 87%

The English Opening, initiated by 1. c4, is a highly strategic and intricate opening. As an enthusiast of the Catalan Opening, I have always been interested by the idea of incorporating a 1. c4 2. g3 setup. However, my extensive experience with 1. d4 left me with limited familiarity with 1. c4. Until now, I had never played the English Opening in a slow time control. While the game wasn't flawless, I was always the one in control.

Game link: https://www.chess.com/game/live/114465041775