English Opening, Symmetrical English, Three Knights & Keres
English Opening
Definition
The English Opening is the family of openings that begins with the flank move 1. c4. With this single pawn advance White seizes space on the queenside, controls the central squares d5 and b5 from afar, and keeps open the option of building either a pure flank attack or transposing into a wide range of 1.d4 or even 1.e4 structures.
How It Is Used
Because 1.c4 does not immediately stake a classical pawn in the center, the English is considered a hyper-modern opening. White’s usual plans include:
- Fianchettoing the king’s bishop with g3 and Bg2 to pressure the long diagonal.
- Delaying central pawn breaks (d2–d4 or e2–e4) until the moment is tactically favorable.
- Applying queenside pressure via b2–b4 or a2–a3–b2–b4 pawn storms.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The English rose to prominence in the 19th century through the games of English master Howard Staunton (hence the name), but it gained universal respect only after Mikhail Botvinnik used it as a mainstay weapon in his 1960 Candidates match against Tal. Today it is a staple in the repertoires of elite grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, and Fabiano Caruana. Its flexibility allows players to steer the game away from an opponent’s pet defences to 1.e4 or 1.d4.
Typical Move Orders
- 1.c4 e5 – King’s English, often leading to symmetrical or reversed Sicilian structures.
- 1.c4 c5 – Symmetrical English (see the next entry).
- 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 or g6 – can transpose to Queen’s Gambit Declined, Nimzo-Indian, or Catalan setups.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The following miniature shows a typical kingside initiative for White:
After 24.Bxa8 White wins material thanks to pressure on the long diagonal that began with the fianchettoed bishop.
Interesting Facts
- When Garry Kasparov needed a must-win game against Karpov in the 1990 World Championship, he chose the English (Game 18) and succeeded.
- Computer engines evaluate many English structures as close to equal, yet practical results heavily favor the better-prepared side because middlegame plans are subtle.
Symmetrical (Opening Concept)
Definition
In chess opening theory, symmetrical refers to positions in which Black mirrors White’s pawn structure and piece development, at least for the first few moves. The term is most often applied to the Symmetrical English (1.c4 c5) but can describe any opening beginning with identical moves such as 1.e4 e5 or 1.d4 d5.
Strategic Usage
The symmetrical approach aims to neutralize White’s first-move advantage by achieving complete structural parity. However, perfect symmetry is difficult to maintain, and when it breaks, the side who times the rupture better often seizes the initiative.
- Pros: Solid, reduces opponent’s prepared novelties, can lead to early simplification.
- Cons: Conceding space (the second-move player reacts), latent vulnerability on the color complex left weak by the mirrored fianchetto or pawn break.
Historical Notes
The Symmetrical English received extensive theoretical treatment from players such as Bent Larsen and Eduard Gufeld. In the computer era, the line 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 is a frequent battleground for engine vs. engine testing because of its balance.
Example: Accelerated Symmetry Break
Both sides mirrored each other until 7…Qb6, when Black’s queen sortie created asymmetry that soon led to central tension.
Curiosities
- World Champion Anatoly Karpov famously used symmetrical structures to “pass the move” to Kasparov, forcing him to overextend before counterpunching.
- Symmetry tends to reduce decisive results in classical play, but in blitz it often backfires as minor inaccuracies are swiftly punished.
Three Knights Opening / Three Knights Game
Definition
The Three Knights Opening arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3. Three knights—two for White, one for Black—are developed toward the center, creating a harmonious but flexible position.
How It Is Used
The line offers a quieter alternative to the more tactical Four Knights (where Black also plays 3…Nf6). Typical continuations include:
- 3…Nf6 4.Bb5 – transposing to the Four Knights Spanish.
- 3…g6 – Steinitz Variation, aiming for a fianchetto and King’s Indian-style structure.
- 3…Bc5 – Winawer Defence (not to be confused with the French Winawer).
Strategic Themes
The early knight development puts immediate pressure on the central e- and d-files while keeping pawn structures intact. The battleground usually shifts to:
- Center Control: White may advance d2–d4; Black can challenge with …d5.
- Piece Activity: Because no pawns are fixed, maneuvering skills often decide the game.
Historical Context
Although overshadowed by the Ruy Lopez and Italian Game, the Three Knights was a favorite of 19th-century masters Johannes Zukertort and Wilhelm Steinitz. Its reputation as “harmless” was shattered when Bobby Fischer used it to defeat Mario Campos Lopez at Havana 1965.
Model Game Excerpt
By move 8 White castles long and prepares a pawn storm, illustrating the latent attacking chances in what first looked like a quiet opening.
Fun Fact
The move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 immediately followed by 3.Nf3 can “reverse” into a Three Knights while avoiding Petrov Defence theory.
Keres–Parma System (of the Sicilian)
Definition
The Keres–Parma System is a sharp anti-Najdorf/Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian Defence characterized by the bishop sortie 6.Bc4 against …a6 lines. A common move order is:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4
Naming
It is named after Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres, who pioneered the idea in the late 1940s, and Italian IM Gennaro Parma, who contributed significant analysis in the 1950s and 60s.
Strategic Purpose
- Immediate kingside pressure: Bc4 eyes f7, often followed by Qe2, 0-0-0, and f2–f4–f5.
- Dissuading …e6: If Black plays …e6, the d6-pawn becomes a target after Bf4 or Bg5.
- Transpositional Trap: A careless Black player can stumble into unfavorable Scheveningen structures without the usual …e6 safety net.
Theoretical Status
Engines currently rate the position as sound for Black with accurate defense (…e6, …b5, …Bb7), but the system remains popular in practical play because one slip can be fatal.
Classic Example – Keres vs. Geller, Zurich 1953
After 14.Qg4! Keres had tremendous attacking chances; Geller eventually lost under the kingside onslaught.
Modern Usage
Grandmasters such as Teimour Radjabov and Richard Rapport employ the Keres–Parma as a surprise weapon, especially in rapid events where precise defensive knowledge is harder to recall.
Anecdote
During preparation for the 1978 Karpov–Korchnoi match, Korchnoi—known for deep Najdorf expertise—allegedly dismissed 6.Bc4 with the words “too risky for White.” Ironically, modern engines now show it is Black who walks the tightrope!