"New twists in the English Defence"

by ChessBase
9/7/2026 – Under the heading ‘New Ideas for Your Repertoire’, ChessBase Magazine shows you in every issue how to make your opening play more varied and successful. The new CBM #233 features, firstly, 10 opening articles – including ones on the Alekhine-Chatard Attack and the Frankenstein Dracula Variation! It also provides three opening videos: Daniel King delivers an update on the English Defence (1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb4+), Ivan Sokolov explores a new approach for White in the Nimzo-Indian, and Mihail Marin analyses Grischuk’s “exotic move 9...e5” in the Gruenfeld. You can now watch Daniel King’s video in full in this week’s CBM preview. Enjoy!
“Attack with Qh5!!” – Tactical training with Oliver Reeh, “6…g5 – nothing ventured, nothing …” – Le Quang Liem comments on one of his victories in Biel, “Grischuk’s stroke of genius” – Petra Papp reveals a surprise in the Sicilian Kan Variation, and much
ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their finest games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master coaches in tactics, strategy and endgames show you exactly the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player!
Included in the package: CBM #233 as a ‘ChessBase Book’ for iPad, tablet, Mac, etc.! Available at books.chessbase.com

 

Daniel King "New twists in the English Defence"

Free sample from ChessBase Magazine #233

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In the 1970s and 1980s, the English Defence (1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 Bb4+) was very popular amongst many top players in Britain. Our author also contributed to the development of this opening. For a long time, 3...Bb7 (followed by 4.Bd3 and the move 4...f5, which is questionable from today’s perspective) was the main line. In recent years, however, the focus has shifted to the move 3...Bb4+ – and this is precisely the starting position for King’s analysis.

White can parry the check with the moves 4.Nc3, 4.Bd2 and 4.Nd2. After 4.Nc3 Bb7, Black immediately gains a very comfortable position (e.g. 5.Bd3 f5!). After 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2, Black continues forcefully with 5...d5: 

They then castle quickly and can begin to develop in the centre whilst the White king is still in the middle! If White does not capture the pawn with the queen but continues 5.Nxd2 Black responds with a swift castling and establishes a pawn chain on the black squares with c7-d6-e5. And what about 4.Nd2? Here, Black continues with 4...Bb7 in order, for example, to answer 5.Bd3 with the classic 5...f5.

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The complete training programme from ChessBase Magazine #233 at a glance:

Click on the image to open a preview from the pdf-booklet!

The new format of the pdf allows selected theory articles and analyses by renowned authors to be presented in full. This issue features, amongst other things, opening articles on the Slav Marshall Gambit 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ and the Barendregt Variation 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.Nc3 c5!? 5.d5 Bxc3+.  You can also look forward to in-depth analyses by Le Quang Liem and Anish Giri! And there’s plenty of space in this beautifully laid-out pdf-file for the presentation of ChessBase Magazine’s wide range of training columns. From opening videos and ‘Practical Tips for the Tournament Player’ to a detailed guide on how to build this issue’s ‘Fortress’ – you’ll find all this in issue #233!

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Video

60m English Anti-Bayonet

King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.