ECO A38 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7

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

6. O-O+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line (A38), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.466. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Nc2 d6 10. Bd2 Qh5
  2. +0.416. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8. Nc2 d6 9. b3 Be6 10. Qd2 Qa5
  3. +0.086. d3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Be3 Bd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. O-O for White, continuing O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Nc2 d6 10. Bd2 Qh5. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 6. d4 (+0.41) and 6. d3 (+0.08).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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, Full Symmetry Line?
A38. 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+).