Openings · A29 · intermediate
English Opening (Reversed Sicilian)
15 moves a side · 0/15 of White's moves mastered
The idea in one sentence
A Sicilian with colours reversed and an extra move for White: White controls d5 from the side and presses with the bishop on g2.
♔ White's plans
- Control d5 with c4 and Nc3
- Fianchetto on g2
- Play on the queenside with a3, b4 and Rb1
♚ Black's plans
- Take the centre with ...e5 and ...d5
- Develop and castle
- Keep the knights well placed against the g2 bishop
Pawn structure. Black has central pawns; White has a half-open c-file and the long diagonal.
How to learn it
- Read the idea and the plans: every move below serves one of them.
- In the story, ask of each move: what does it do, what does it stop, what does it prepare, why not the other one?
- Drill your side. At the key moves you name the idea first, then play the move.
- Missed moves come back first next time, and in your journal.
The defining moves
- 1.c4 controls d5 from the side.
- 1...e5 takes the centre: a Sicilian with colours reversed.
- 4.g3 prepares the fianchetto.
- 4...d5 takes the centre.
The line follows the moves masters play most (Lichess masters database), each checked by Stockfish 19 at depth 22; where the book move is not Stockfish's first choice, the story says so. Scores are in pawns from White's side: +0.30 is good for White, −0.30 for Black.