ECO A37 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation

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

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

5… e6+0.14

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

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation (A37), reached after 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… e6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.14).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.145… e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nb5 d5 8. cxd5 Qa5+ 9. Nd2 exd5 10. Nd6+
  2. +0.205… d6 6. e3 e5 7. O-O Nge7 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Nb5
  3. +0.345… h5 6. h3 e6 7. e3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation?
After 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… e6 for Black, continuing 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nb5 d5 8. cxd5 Qa5+ 9. Nd2 exd5 10. Nd6+. The position is roughly equal (+0.14). The next best moves are 5… d6 (+0.20) and 5… h5 (+0.34).
Is the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.14: 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, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation?
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+).