ECO A33 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 Nc6 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6

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

7. Ndb5+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation (A33), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 Nc6 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Ndb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.487. Ndb5 d5 8. Bg2 d4 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. Nc5 e5
  2. +0.257. Nb3 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bg2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. O-O e5
  3. +0.107. e3 Be7 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Nxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 Nc6 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Ndb5 for White, continuing d5 8. Bg2 d4 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. Nc5 e5. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 7. Nb3 (+0.25) and 7. e3 (+0.10).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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, Anti-Benoni Variation, Geller Variation?
A33. 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+).