English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Four Knights Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A35), reached after 6 half-moves: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6.

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, Four Knights Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A35. ECO group A (A00–A99) covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached after 6 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Symmetrical Variation → Four Knights Variation line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 3…Nc6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.c4 Nf6, 2.Nf3 c5, 3.Nc3 Nc6. 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.