I just do 1. .... g6. It might subconsciously cause white to strongly suggest e4 and/or d4 as the next move(s) because there is no challenge in the center, in which case I can get into a proper King's Indian setup.

You make a very good point BPaulsen and your advice is very helpful. As for your recommended lines I think 1...b6 will be my choice for the time being as it seems to require less preperation than 1...Nf6 2...c6. With time I will prepare this line well.

Mnb, now that I see you recommended variation I remember that this was precisely the opening my opponent outplayed the GM Not that you could possibly know this.

When I know what my opponent plays ahead of time, especially club-level opponents like 2000s I immediately aim to spike their opening and set valid problems from the get-go. I don't forcefully limit myself to some repertoire concept.

Three options for dealing with a player you know plays that set-up well.

#1) 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 d5 (Anglo-Grunfeld) is completely playable if you're okay with Grunfeld set-ups.

#2) 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 is my preference. Black is supposed to be okay according to theory, and it's going to be a fighting game where white isn't going to get his Botvinnik set-up, obviously. In fact, white will be forced to play energetically to maintain compensation for the pawn.

#3) This one can be the most effective by a mile against club-level English players that trot out 1. c4/2. g3, and that's 1...b6. 1. c4 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Nf3 Bxf3! 4. exf3 c5 is considered equal for black, and better yet winning chances are very good with inaccurate play by white. If he's prepared enough to play 2. Nc3, the upside is Botvinnik set-ups are considered tame, and he's going to need to play an entirely different type of game to try for an edge, and white can easily lose his way.

It's never a good idea to just walk into the one sort of position your opponent plays extremely well just for the sake of always playing your repertoire.

This is just White playing the very common Botvinnik System. It's been recommended in several repertoire books so as Black you should of course be prepared for it. It was a big part of Kosten's now 10 years old "The Dynamic English", though he only recommended it against black setups with ...e5, not those with ...c5.

If you want to play it with ...c5 as in your diagram a good book on the Symmetrical English is useful. Both Carsten Hansen and Cummmings attempted "complete" coverage though they're not exactly new. Palliser's more recent repertoire book "Beating Unusual Chess Openings" recommended 1.c4 c5 for Black and in fact wants to play the Botvinnik System from that side, but he should have something on what to do against it as well.

There has to be something on this on ChessPublishing too, of course.