Symmetrical English

Originally posted by exigentsky
No, but my book uses c5 as the preferred response because it is similar to the Sicilian lines it presents earlier. Thus, they select c5 mostly to save time, not necessarily because they think it is better. They don't cover the e5 response.

I am a very serious English player and on this site have used it almost exclusively to develop a feel for it. Frankly the English does not play like a reversed Sicilian very much except in a few lines that look like a reversed Dragon or Najdorf and they are in the ....e5 lines. When some one responds ...c5, I generally know that I can get an opening advantage. The reason is that the play tends to be symmetrical for awhile and white, with the advantage of the first move, can lead black into a jungle from which there is no return. White scores well against the Symmetrical because the first move advantage is huge in this system.

The best lines against the English stem from either ...e5 or surprisingly ...e6. The best single line against the English is the Keres System, ...e5, ...Nf6, ...c6. At least IMHO. Black should mix it up and play aggressvely because often white does not have center pawns extended very far and he plans to control the center with pieces. It is a flank opening after all. Forcing those pieces doing something else is usually a good idea.

Originally posted by MotownDave
I am a very serious English player and on this site have used it almost exclusively to develop a feel for it. Frankly the English does not play like a reversed Sicilian very much except in a few lines that look like a reversed Dragon or Najdorf and they are in the ....e5 lines. When some one responds ...c5, I generally know that I can get an opening adv ...[text shortened]... is a flank opening after all. Forcing those pieces doing something else is usually a good idea.

thanks for that post.

I play english all the time and have not improved .Probably because I am onl 1200+ and hate using databases.
currently my win / loss ratio is 80/90.

i will view your games to ree how you deal with variations.

watch my rating rocket now..

Originally posted by MotownDave
I am a very serious English player and on this site have used it almost exclusively to develop a feel for it. Frankly the English does not play like a reversed Sicilian very much except in a few lines that look like a reversed Dragon or Najdorf and they are in the ....e5 lines. When some one responds ...c5, I generally know that I can get an opening adv ...[text shortened]... is a flank opening after all. Forcing those pieces doing something else is usually a good idea.

Sorry, that's not really what I meant. My book is for Black's side and the symmetrical variation can transpose into many positions similar to the Hyper Accelerated Dragon. This is why they recommend it, there is less learning. For example, if White goes for the Maroczy bind, it would be the same Maroczy bind as when White starts with e4.

Anyway, do you want to play a game. I could use some practice against the English.