English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Double Fianchetto

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A38), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. b3.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Double Fianchetto is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A38. ECO group A (A00–A99) covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached after 13 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. b3.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Symmetrical Variation → Double Fianchetto line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 7.b3.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.c4 c5, 2.Nc3 Nc6, 3.g3 g6, 4.Bg2 Bg7, 5.Nf3 Nf6, 6.O-O O-O. 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.