This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack
The opening moves are: 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4. This variation arises when Black immediately challenges White's development by pinning the knight on c3 with their bishop.
Characteristic: Black's move 2...Bb4 is a provocative pin that puts pressure on White's knight and indirectly targets control of the center. It aims to disrupt White's smooth development and create tactical chances early on.
Playing Style: For Black, this is an attacking and somewhat provocative approach, seeking active piece play and early tension. White can respond flexibly but should be prepared for dynamic play. White's strategy remains more positional but must be ready to meet Black's pressure.
Center Control: While the English Opening generally focuses on controlling the center from a distance, this variation invites early contestation of the center. Black does not immediately occupy the center with pawns but uses piece pressure to challenge White’s central influence.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 21 - Move #7 black
You can also discover how top players used English Opening: King's English Variation, Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.