Chess opening · ECO A30
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation
The English Opening: Symmetrical Variation starts 1. c4 c5. It ranks #103 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. c4White pushes the c-pawn two squares to c4.
- 1... c5Black pushes the c-pawn two squares to c5.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Nc3 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nc3 53% | e4 33% | d4 7% |
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 49% | Nf3 13% | e3 10% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 52% | g3 14% | Nf3 10% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 51% | Nf3 14% | g3 11% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc3 60% | Nf3 16% | g3 10% |
| 2000 and up | Nc3 59% | Nf3 20% | g3 18% |
Related openings
Practice it against a human-like opponent.
BeaconChess opponents open from these same books, then play human-like moves for their level while the coach explains your moves in plain English. The first coached game is free.
Play a free coached game →Played this opening recently?
Paste the game into the free analyzer to find the moves that cost you, with each mistake explained. Three analyses are free, with no email or card.
Analyze a game free →