1. c4 opening variation with f4

Is there a line/variation of the english opening that has f4? And if so, what are your favorites?

Look up the Botvinnik variation of the English, it has pawns on c4, d3, e4, f4, g3 with knights on c3, e2, and Bishops on e3, g2.

My (obvious) suggestions of what not to play:

1. Don't go for a reverse Sicilian type position.  The sicilian is double edged but that one tempo can tip the balance.

2. Don't waste your time studying the hedgehog. It's not ensured that you will reach such a position, so you might as well study one variation that you know really well and is reachable by force.

Thanks everybody for their input.


I rarely play 1. c4 but I did play some bullet (1 0) games with 1.c4 and later on f4, and they were often fun. Since bullet games aren't a good thing to measuer openings by I decided to ask and see if there are any opening lines that have f4 in them.

@ AnthonyCG  It doens't have to have f4 early on, it can be at move 10 or even 15. Though of course earlier means that there is a greater chance that my opponent will play into it

There is a line of the Bird with c4.  It is called the Mujannah.  1 f4 d5 2 c4.  The name is derived from the old Shatranj tabiya where the pawns were advanced f3-f4 and c3-c4 to make room for the knights.

As far as an English line, in the Rubinstein 1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 g3 d5 4 cxd5 Nxd5 5 Bg2 Nc7 black often sets up a pawn on e5 and white challenges it with f4.

I'm currently in a correspondance game, opening phase.  1.f4 Nf6 2.c4.  I decided to do some research to see if this is a known opening.  I appreciate the posts in this thread!

Not sure what black's plan should be, but I'll figure something out.