English Opening · A36

Symmetrical Variation, Ultra-Symmetrical Variation

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

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. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7.

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