ECO A36 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 e5

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

6. d3+0.42

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3 (A36), reached after 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.42).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.426. d3 d6 7. Nge2 Nge7 8. a3 Be6 9. Nd5 O-O 10. Nec3 Qc8
  2. +0.416. a3 d6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Rb1 Be6 9. Nf3 h6 10. b4 d5
  3. +0.386. Nge2 d6 7. d3 Nge7 8. a3 Be6 9. Nd5 O-O 10. Rb1 b5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3?
After 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d3 for White, continuing d6 7. Nge2 Nge7 8. a3 Be6 9. Nd5 O-O 10. Nec3 Qc8. White is slightly better (+0.42). The next best moves are 6. a3 (+0.41) and 6. Nge2 (+0.38).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.42: 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, Botvinnik System Reversed, with e3?
A36. 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+).