ECO A30 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation

1. c4 c5

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

2. Nc3+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation (A30), reached after 1. c4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.332. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6
  2. +0.322. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. Nc3 Be7 6. O-O d6
  3. +0.242. e3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 a6

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e5
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation?
After 1. c4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. Nc3 for White, continuing e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 2. Nf3 (+0.32) and 2. e3 (+0.24).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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 Variation?
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+).