ECO A37 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5

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

6. Rb1+0.24

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3 (A37), reached after 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Rb1 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.246. Rb1 Nge7 7. d3 d6 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 f5 10. Bb2 h6
  2. +0.186. d3 d6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ne1 Be6 9. Nd5 O-O 10. Nc2 Rb8
  3. +0.176. O-O d6 7. a3 Nge7 8. Rb1 a5 9. d3 O-O 10. Ne1 Be6

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O d6
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O Nge7
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O Nge7 7. a3
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3 d6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3?
After 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Rb1 for White, continuing Nge7 7. d3 d6 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 f5 10. Bb2 h6. The position is roughly equal (+0.24). The next best moves are 6. d3 (+0.18) and 6. O-O (+0.17).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.24: the position is roughly equal. 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 Nf3?
A37. 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+).