From Mark Weeks,
Your Guide to Chess.
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Our last opening is again a single move. White often plays 1.c4, as in the diagram.

We include 1.c4 for the same reasons as 1.Nf3 : (1) although played less frequently than 1.e4 or 1.d4, it has a considerable following; (2) the most popular response leads back to the 1.d4 openings; and (3) none of the alternate responses are as popular. There is one additional consideration : there are so many good responses that no single move is considerably more popular than any other.

• 1...Nf6
• 1...e5
• 1...e6
• 1...c5
• 1...g6
• 1...c6
• 1...f5

Many of these moves lead to less popular responses to 1.d4. The moves 1.c4 c6 will often transpose to a Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), while the moves 1.c4 f5 will usually transpose to a Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5).

Only 1.c4 e5 and 1.c4 c5 lead to systems not often seen after 1.d4. Taken together, they represent an important branch of chess openings.

For more about the diagrammed position, see English Opening in our Repertoire Recommendations.