Opening family
English Defense Lines and Variations
The English Defense family contains 7 named lines in this opening book, spanning ECO A40. Use this page as the map, then open individual lines for exact move orders and diagrams.
How to study this family
White
White should use the move order as a checkpoint: finish development, identify the central break, and compare the continuations below before memorizing moves.
Black
Black should ask what White is threatening in the center, then choose development moves that prepare a clean pawn break or a useful exchange.
Start with the shortest line, then branch to the variations that change the pawn structure or tactical target. Memorizing every branch before understanding the family plan is usually wasted work.
Main named lines
- A40 · English Defense
- A40 · English Defense
- A40 · English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit
- A40 · English Defense: Perrin Variation
- A40 · English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Declined
- A40 · English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted
- A40 · English Defense: Poli Gambit
Deep theory branches
- 1. c4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 f5 5. exf5 Nf6 — English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Accepted
- 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. f3 f5 5. exf5 Nh6 — English Defense: Poli Gambit
- 1. c4 e6 2. d4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 f5 5. d5 — English Defense: Hartlaub Gambit Declined
- 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6 — English Defense: Perrin Variation
- 1. d4 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e5 — English Defense: Eastbourne Gambit
- 1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 — English Defense
- 1. d4 b6 — English Defense