1.c4 e5 – Top-Level Repertoire against the English Opening – Part 1

We are excited to present another big project by GM Boris Avrukh – 1.c4 e5 – Top-Level Repertoire against the English Opening. The repertoire will be divided in two parts. The current database provides complete repertoire for Black after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3. All the remaining White’s second moves will be dealt with in Part 2.

True to his analytical approach, GM Boris Avrukh suggests quite an ambitious repertoire against the English Opening. In the database, you will also find many interesting novelties and less explored directions. The course consists of 11 theoretical chapters, 11 interactive test positions, a Memory Booster, and a Video Version (6h and 57min).

The starting position of our repertoire is reached after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6

It goes without saying that 2…Nf6 is Black’s most popular and ambitious continuation. At this point, White’s main line is 3.Nf3. Before dealing with this continuation, however, Avrukh provides an extensive examination of all the alternatives. Let’s take a brief look.

Chapter 1 is dedicated to 3.a3. White is planning to play Sicilian Reversed with an extra tempo. Instead of going for the classical 3…d5, Avrukh suggests 3…c6 which offers Black excellent chances.

Chapter 2 features the position arising after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d3 Bb4

Pinning the c3-knight is a recurring motif in the English Opening. Black is ready to answer 4.Nf3 with 4…e4. Additionally, White should always reckon with the threat of …Bxc3 followed by …e5-e4. According to the analysis, Black has an excellent counterplay.

Chapters 3-5 examines the move 3.e3.

White wants to play Sicilian Taimanov with an extra tempo. Avrukh suggests 3…Nc6 after which he covers many continuations for White. Note that these lines are highly transpositional. Therefore, some of the moves would lead to positions that are examined in different chapters.

The following three chapters feature the position arising after 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Bb4

it’s very important that we develop without committing our knight to c6. Lately, in many lines, we can benefit from it by playing c6 in order to prepare d7-d5 advance.

In Chapter 6, Avrukh proves that after 4.Nf3 e4, Black can even overtake the initiative.

In Chapter 7, you will see how important it is to answer 4.e4 with 4…Bxc3. We should capture the knight before White achieves harmonious development with 5.Nge2. The arising positions with doubled pawns are quite typical for the English Opening. Black is doing great.

Chapter 8 features another very important tabiya arising after 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 0-0

At this point, the author examines two main directions for White – 6.d3 and 6.Nf3. Note that the move 6.e4 transposes to the previous chapter. In both cases, Black has an excellent counterplay.

The last three chapters are dedicated to the main line 3.Nf3 to which Avrukh recommends 3…e4!?.

A rather surprising choice for some of you, but if you follow new trends, you might notice strong players have been trying this line recently. The main reason for choosing this move, which has been considered dubious for many years, is the spectacular “Adhiban Gambit,” which  Avrukh is excited to introduce.

Chapter 9 features 4.Nd4 which is very well met by 4…Bb4. Black has nothing to worry about in this line.

The main starting position of the Adhiban Gambit arises after 4.Ng5 c6!

This is the move that brought the entire line back to life. Black is planning to strengthen the centre with …d7-d5. White’s main move 5.Qa4 is covered in the last Chapter 11. All the alternatives to the main line are examined in Chapter 10. In Chapter 11, you will find a very strong novelty by Avrukh that solves all Black’s problems in this line.