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Counter the English Opening
Course
80 episodes
(4 hours 2 min)
(4 hours 2 min)
Creators
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
One of the most popular 1st moves you’re likely to face with Black is 1.c4, also known as The English Opening.
It’s a solid opening where the structure often remains flexible and closed.
Many amateurs struggle to play against such openings because often it’s easy to make a reckless move that can create long-term problems.
So how should you play against 1.c4? ...
See moreThis course will give you a practical repertoire starting with 1...c5!
Below are some of the diagrams from this course:
Once you finish the course, you'll feel very comfortable playing against 1.c4.
Let's start the journey!
What you'll learn
- A full repertoire to counter the English opening with 1.c4 c5!
- The strategy for both sides in this opening.
- A rare but perhaps the strongest continuation against one of White’s solid setup — the Botvinnik System.
- How to counter White's double fianchetto setup in this opening?
- Model games to help you grasp the key ideas and concepts in this opening and more.
Course Content
-
80
Episodes -
1
Attachments -
4 hours 2 min
5
Students give this course an average of 5 out of 5 stars.
Nevan Ashad
Great Course!
Nevan Ashad
I have watched this course and the benko gambit course. And in the benk after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4. Sir avetik says that it is covered in the nglish course deeply, but i couldn't find it, can anyonetell me which chapter it is in?
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
Dear Nevan,
Did you check the system with g3-Bg2 fianchetto lines, which is not in my English course, but in the one that GM Avetik has? :-)
Please whenever you have questions, put them in the forum for fthe uture.
Good luck :-)
Nevan Ashad
Thank you Coach!
louis cheng
This was a great course with very detailed explanations
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
Thank you so much!
Vincent Chessmood
Flaviano Brandi
This course is a masterpiece!
I have always suffered a lot against the English, using the symmetrical variation too.
I think that I have found "the" system. I have played some games against Stockfish level 6 and 7 winning almost every game!
Only a question if I can: what to play against the move order 5. d3, 6. e4, 7. Nge2?
A guy played that yesterday on an OTB tournament.
I have tried the plan with a6-b5-b4, but there is a small difference from 5. e4 directly. Black's play seems to be slower to me because e5 has been played (committed?) already and the pawn sacrifice seems weaker now than on 5. e4.
I won that game (you can find it in the "games of August" on the forum section), but I am not sure if there can be something better.
I have searched the entire course after the game and I was not able to find anything against this particular move order.
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
Dear Flaviano,
Thanks so much for your kind words and nice feedback!
I appreciate it a lot.
Please post your question, in the Chessmood forum - PRO members channel - that's the place where we are answering the questions.
Good luck!
Max Ezerskii
Thank you for the course!
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
Thank you too for watching :-)
Sukaina Kari
the best defense ever!!!
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
That's awesome to read, thank you so much :-)
Alan Marcuse
Really great, whatever White does, I'll have an answer now, not fearing any transposition any longer. Thanks for this fantastic repertoire, Hovhannes!
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
Thanks for the fantastic feedback!
After recording this for Black I also always enjoy playing against the English :-)
Santo D'Agostino
Excellent course, as usual for GM Gabuzyan. Very clear explanation, well-organized, concise, and sufficient to be well-prepared for tournaments.
GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan
I smiled when reading this feedback, thanks for kind words!
Jan Kuntz
I just played my first game with this opening and won in 41 moves with a 96% accuracy. (Magnus I'm coming for you!) It really gives a lot of confidence and security to step by step getting the opening face in place. Great way you explain things Mr Gabuzyan!
ChessMood
Thank you!
Cheers to Carlsen! :)
Arthur Arthur
Love it !
ChessMood
Thanks Arthur!
Giorgos Kechagias
Best explanations to ensure success!
ChessMood
And a great feedback, thanks 😄
Llorenç Boldú Zabih
Thanks, very good analysis and explanations, wide and deep. ;)
ChessMood
Thanks for kind words Llorenc 😎
w mutu
Muy bueno
ChessMood
Gracias 🤗
Devendra Parmar
good
ChessMood
😎
Jón Gunnarsson
Good stuff :) !
ChessMood
Thanks Jon!
Vishnu Warrier
Ruben Molina
Thanks!
ChessMood
Merci 🤗
Christian Eriksson
Ritvik Caringula
Varun Kumar
Shahinur Haque
Artyom Manukyan
Captain Hook
skipper chess
WIM_Siranush Ghukasyan
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
Hovhannes Gabuzyan became a U-16 Olympic Champion in 2010. Two years later, at 17, he achieved the Grandmaster title.
He was the World University Chess Champion in 2016, the Armenian Champion in 2017 and 2021, and has represented his country at the prestigious Chess Olympiad.
He believes time is a person’s most valuable resource. This philosophy reflects in his swift play on the chessboard and his training methods that focus on squeezing the most out of one’s time.
Hovhannes Gabuzyan became a U-16 Olympic Champion in 2010. Two years later, at 17, he achieved the Grandmaster title.
He was the World University Chess Champion in 2016, the Armenian Champion in 2017 and 2021, and has represented his country at the prestigious Chess Olympiad.
He believes time is a person’s most valuable resource. This philosophy reflects in his swift play on the chessboard and his training methods that focus on squeezing the most out of one’s time.
The English opening begins after 1.c4 and is one of the main openings in chess. Black has a variety of options to play against it.
We recommend playing the Symmetrical English Opening with 1...c5. This move is played by top players like GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Maxime Vachier Lagrave and former World Champion GM Vladimir Kramnik.
History of the English Opening
The first game in the English Opening was played between Gunnar Isaacson - Lloyd Bishop in Gainesville, 1816. White won the game.
Later, Howard Staunton employed this opening against Pierre De Saint Amant, in their match in Paris 1843. It was here that the first game in the Symmetrical English Opening was also played, with Staunton emerging victorious.
Because Staunton was English, it’s believed that the opening was named after him.
Today you’ll see almost every other top Grandmaster using the English opening in regular practice.
How to play against 1.c4 with the Symmetrical English Opening?
In the Symmetrical English Opening, Black prepares to fianchetto their Bishop with 2...g6. Play often continues as 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6.
Black now wants to build up a strong central control with ...e5. They will also look to push their f-pawn and create a play on the Kingside, depending on what course of action White chooses.
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Course
80
Episodes
1
Attachments
4 hours 2 min
80
1
4 hours 2 min
Creators
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
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