ECO A39 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4

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

7… d5+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation (A39), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.447… d5 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Qa4 Qa5 10. Qxa5 Nxa5 11. Bf4 Bf5 12. Rfd1
  2. +0.457… Nxd4 8. Nxd4 cxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 Bf5 11. e4 Be6 12. b3
  3. +0.497… d6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 e6 10. Rb1 Re8 11. b3 exd5 12. Nxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… d5 for Black, continuing 8. dxc5 dxc4 9. Qa4 Qa5 10. Qxa5 Nxa5 11. Bf4 Bf5 12. Rfd1. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 7… Nxd4 (+0.45) and 7… d6 (+0.49).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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, Mecking Variation?
A39. 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+).