Library/Openings/English Opening/Symmetrical Variation/Botvinnik System ECO A36
Opening· 9 plies

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A36), reached after 9 half-moves: 1. c4 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2.

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System ECO A36
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black knight
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
Black pawn
Black knight
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White rook
White bishop
White queen
White king
White knight
White rook
9/9
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End of this line

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About this opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A36. ECO group A (A00–A99) covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached after 9 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. c4 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Symmetrical Variation → Botvinnik System line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 5.Bg2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.c4 c5, 2.e4 Nc6, 3.Nc3 g6, 4.g3 Bg7, 5.Bg2. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.