Has anyone ever come across the English Defence? -1.d4, e6 2.c4, b6. I’ve had it played against me a couple of times online recently – I usually try and discourage it by playing 2.e4 rather than 2.c4 trying to get black to go into the French (which I feel very comfortable playing against) but I would like to learn what’s black’s aiming for in the English Defence and experiment playing it their way next time – I think white looks fine after 2…b6 3.e4 – white has a great centre and black has chances to attack it. Any thoughts?

As far as I know this is the Queens Indian Defence.

It isn't

It's not the QID until Nc3 and Nf6 are added. Never seen it before, but of course I don't play d4 with white. The continuation I'd go for is 3. e4 and play actively, develop as against the Queen's Fianchetto defense.

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 {I like throwing in this move first} Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. f3
You're going to be okay, nobody's going to hurt you. If for example 6. ... c5 {not book} 7. a3 Ba5 8. d5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 you'll be fine. Normally, 6. ... 0-0 7. Nge2 and let's play chess.

I didn't even know of this defense. In the one time i saw it, i saw it transpose into the french defense.

Well basically, 1. ... e6 can end up anywhere.

It's similar to Owen's Defence:
1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. a3 d5 8. e5 Nfd7 9. b4 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 "With a clear plus to white" (MCO-15)

Yeah, basically White can force a French if he likes, by playing 2.e4 rather than 2.c4 which is what I have been doing (if black proceeds with 2…b6 anyway it then becomes an Owen's Defense)

I don’t think anyone at Chess club has ever played it against me, but it does crop up in CC games now and then – As far as I can make out it was developed by Tony Miles and other English GM’s such as Speelman and sleazy Ray Keene started using it as well, hence the name. I certainly don’t think it’s bad for black, possibly a little passive in the first few moves but the early fianchettoed Bishop has a lot of bite.