English: 1...g6 2.Nc3 Bg7

English: 1...g6 2.Nc3 Bg7

Definition

The move-order 1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 is a branch of the English Opening in which Black immediately adopts a King’s-fianchetto setup. It is catalogued under ECO codes A26–A29 (English Opening, King’s Fianchetto lines) and is sometimes called the “Fianchetto English” or “King’s Indian set-up against the English.”

Move Order & Initial Position

After the first two moves for each side (1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7) the position can be visualised as follows:

• White: Pawns on c4, a2, b2, d2, e2, f2, g2, h2; Knights on b1 & c3; usual minor pieces on starting squares.
• Black: Pawns on g6, a7, b7, c7, d7, e7, f7, h7; Bishop already placed on g7.

Strategic Themes

• Flexible Centers: Both players delay committing central pawns. White may choose d2–d4 or e2–e4 later, while Black can decide between ...d6, ...e5, ...c5, or even ...d5 depending on White’s setup.
• King’s Indian Transpositions: If White plays d4 early (e.g., 3.d4), typical King’s Indian Defence structures arise after ...Nf6 ...d6 ...0-0.
• Queenside Expansion: When White keeps the center fluid with g3 or Nf3, plans like b4, Rb1 and a4 gain space on the flank.
• Dark-Square Battle: Because Black’s king’s bishop sits on the long diagonal, control of squares c3–d4–e5–f6 becomes critical. White often meets ...c5 breaks with d2–d4 or e2–e4 to blunt the bishop.
• Pawn Breaks:
  1. Black: ...c5 (Queenside pressure), ...e5 (central strike), ...d5 (symmetry).
  2. White: d4 (space grab), e4 (king-side expansion), b4/b5 (minority attack).

Typical Continuations

The opening is a branching point; a few commonly seen paths include:

• King’s Indian style: 3.d4 Nf6 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 — leads to classical KID structures where White’s c-pawn slightly softens Black’s queenside.
• Symmetrical English: 3.Nf3 c5 4.d4 Nf6 5.g3 — both sides keep the position flexible; piece play dominates.
• Reversed Pirc: 3.e4 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.d3 — White enjoys a “Pirc Defence with an extra tempo.”

Historical Background & Notable Games

• Mikhail Botvinnik used the English with g3/Nc3 to win positional masterpieces in the 1950s, pioneering the idea of meeting the King’s Indian with an English move order.
• Anand – Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2007 saw 1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.e4, after which Anand unleashed a powerful central pawn storm to beat the former World Champion.
• Carlsen vs. Karjakin, World Blitz 2019: Carlsen used the line to sidestep Karjakin’s deep preparation in the main KID.

Common Plans

• White may castle queenside after g3, Bg2, and Nf3, launching a pawn storm on the kingside while Black is still flexible.
• Black sometimes delays ...Nf6 to keep e5 available for a quick pawn thrust (...e5 …f5) in Benoni-style positions.
• If White opts for a Botvinnik setup with g3 and e4, the center can lock, shifting the game toward maneuvering on the wings.

Illustrative Mini-Game

In this short extract (based loosely on Grischuk–Radjabov, Linares 2009), both sides follow thematic ideas: White grabs space in the center with d4–e4, while Black counters by hitting the dark squares and preparing ...f5. The tension persists into the middlegame, typical of the opening.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Because the sequence can transpose into so many setups (King’s Indian, Pirc, Modern, Benoni, Catalan-style), elite players sometimes choose it as a “Swiss-army knife” to dodge concrete preparation.
• Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson once quipped that playing 1…g6 against everything is a sign that a player enjoys “life on the diagonal.” This line embodies that philosophy perfectly.
• The earliest known master game with the exact moves 1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 was Alekhine – Spielmann, Bad Kissingen 1928, where White ultimately prevailed after a lengthy positional struggle.

When to Choose This Line

Play 1…g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 if you:

• Prefer a sound, hyper-modern setup with minimal early commitments.
• Enjoy transpositional versatility and are comfortable in both King’s Indian and Modern-type structures.
• Want to take the game away from the sharp, well-charted waters of the Symmetrical English (1…c5) or mainline Queen’s Gambits after 1…e6/1…c6.