Daniel King: English Defence
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb4+
In the 1970s and 1980s, the English Defence was very popular amongst many top players in Britain. Our author also contributed to the development of this opening. For a long time, 3...Bb7 (followed by 4.Bd3 and the move 4...f5, which is questionable from today’s perspective) was the main line. In recent years, however, the focus has shifted to the move 3...Bb4+ – and this is precisely the starting position for King’s analysis. White can parry the check with the moves 4.Nc3, 4.Bd2 and 4.Nd2. After 4.Nc3 Bb7, Black immediately gains a very comfortable position (e.g. 5.Bd3 f5!). After 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2, Black continues forcefully with 5...d5; he then castles quickly and can begin to develop in the centre whilst the White king is still in the middle! Black also responds to 5.Nxd2 (instead of 5.Qxd2) with a swift castling and establishes a pawn chain on the black squares with c7-d6-e5. And what about 4.Nd2? Here, Black continues with 4...Bb7 in order, for example, to answer 5.Bd3 with the classic 5...f5.