# Chess openings: What is the English Opening?

Learn how to use the English Opening to level up your game!

Learning openings requires understanding chess notation, the system for naming pieces and moves. [Get a refresher on chess notation here](https://blog.duolingo.com/chess-notation/)!

## English Opening: 4 quick facts

- The English Opening is named after famous 19th century English player [Howard Staunton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Staunton?ref=blog.duolingo.com).
- It’s a [solid](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#solid) and versatile opening that is often played by top [grandmasters](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-to-become-a-chess-grandmaster/).
- This opening is considered a flank opening, meaning that it starts out with moving a flank (side) pawn, as opposed to moving the more common [center pawns](https://blog.duolingo.com/chess-opening-moves-tips/#tip-2-control-the-center) with either [1. e4](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#e4) or [1. d4](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#d4).
- The English can turn into either a [hypermodern](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#hypermodern) or a more classical opening, depending on how both players respond. It often [transposes](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#transposition) into other openings, such as the [Queen’s Gambit](https://blog.duolingo.com/queens-gambit-opening/) or one of the Indian Defenses, including the [King’s Indian Defense](https://blog.duolingo.com/kings-indian-defense/) and the [Nimzo-Indian Defense](https://blog.duolingo.com/nimzo-indian-defense/).

## English Opening: the move

Here is the move for the English Opening:

💡

1. c4

## One move, many possibilities

If you want to keep your opponents guessing and unsure of what opening you’ll lead into, try the English Opening.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out [our guide featuring over 30 options](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/) for every skill level!