English Opening · A36

Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System

1. c4 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. c4 fights for d5 without committing the centre pawns: White often fianchettoes and plays a reversed Sicilian with an extra tempo.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the English Opening.
• 1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Symmetrical Variation.
• 2. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Staunton-Cochrane Variation.
• 2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5.

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