A36 · English Opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6
♜♝♛♚♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♝♟♞♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♝♟♜♝♛♚♞♜
The position after 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6, White to move.

In the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

See how you play it

The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code A36. It is reached after the moves 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6: 8 moves in, with White to play.

It belongs to the English Opening family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.

Club players rarely lose the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

Play the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →

Related openings

English OpeningEnglish Opening: Agincourt DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Bogoljubow DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense AcceptedEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Catalan Defense, Semi-Slav DefenseEnglish Opening: Agincourt Defense, Kurajica Defense

See how you play this opening