ECO A30 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

11. Bb2+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation (A30), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Bb2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5411. Bb2 O-O 12. e4 Rc8 13. Qe3 h6 14. Nd4 Rc7 15. Rd2 Qb8
  2. +0.5011. e4 Qb8 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxe5 h6 15. Qxb8+ Rxb8
  3. +0.4411. Ba3 Nc5 12. e4 Rc8 13. Ne1 Qc7 14. Qe3 O-O 15. Qe2 Rfd8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Bb2 for White, continuing O-O 12. e4 Rc8 13. Qe3 h6 14. Nd4 Rc7 15. Rd2 Qb8. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 11. e4 (+0.50) and 11. Ba3 (+0.44).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation?
A30. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).