English Opening According to Eljanov: The Fifth Installment
When Pavel Eljanov began developing his English Opening repertoire, he noticed that 1.c4 e6 2.g3 represented a distinct challenge requiring its own dedicated treatment. While his previous courses had covered Black's symmetrical responses, King's Indian structures, and direct central challenges, the setup with ...e6 and …d5 demanded a separate approach. His solution centers on 3.Bg2 followed by Nf3, O-O, and (depending on how black continues) b3—a flexible formation that maintains White's opening advantage while adapting precisely to Black's chosen structure.
This course represents the fifth installment in Eljanov's English Opening system on Modern Chess. Having already addressed 1.c4 c5, 1.c4 e5, systems with ...g7-g6, and the Slav and King's Indian structures, Eljanov now tackles 1.c4 e6 2.g3. The approach centers on establishing a solid fianchetto formation that responds to Black's setup while preserving White's first-move flexibility.
The Variation Map
The repertoire branches logically from the central position 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3:
Early Deviations:
- Chapter 1 — 3...d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.O-O: Black's fifth move alternatives
- Chapter 2 — 5...Bc5 6.b3: The mainline with 6.b3, activating the dark-squared bishop
- Chapter 3 — 4...c5 5.e3: Black's solidifying fourth move setup
Black Captures Early:
- Chapter 4 — 4...dxc4: Early capture systems without ...Nbd7
- Chapter 5 — 4...dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7: The principal continuation after 5.Qa4+
Mainline Territory (after 5.O-O O-O 6.b3):
- Chapter 6 — Black's rare fourth move alternatives (instead of 4...Be7)
- Chapter 7 — Sixth move alternatives (rare responses to 6.b3)
- Chapter 8 — 6...c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3: The central tabiya
- Chapter 9 — 6...b6 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.cxd5: Straightforward simplification
- Chapter 10 — 6...d4 7.e3 c5 8.Ne5: Opening the f-pawn with dynamic intentions
What You Get
- 10 Chapters
- 20 test positions
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Video instruction
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
Technical Philosophy
Eljanov's method emphasizes understanding position types over memorizing lengthy variations. The b3 system proves remarkably effective across diverse structures: against early ...d4 pushes, it facilitates dark-square control, works well against standard setups with ...Be7 and ...O-O, it prepares Bb2 while keeping central tension; it supports rapid development without compromising structure. The course reveals how seemingly quiet fianchetto positions conceal concrete tactical resources—particularly the surprising 8.Ne5 against ...d4, exploiting the f-file later on.
With this fifth installment, Eljanov's English Opening system continues to expand. Players seeking a cohesive 1.c4 repertoire now have access to comprehensive coverage across major responses, unified by consistent strategic principles and flexible move orders that interconnect seamlessly across all courses.
INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR
SAMPLE CHAPTER
SAMPLE VIDEO