Library/Openings/English Opening/Symmetrical Variation/Full Symmetry Line ECO A38
Opening· 10 plies

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A38), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7.

English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Full Symmetry Line ECO A38
87654321
abcdefgh
Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
Black pawn
Black knight
Black knight
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White knight
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White rook
White bishop
White queen
White king
White rook
10/10
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
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, Full Symmetry Line 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 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Symmetrical Variation → Full Symmetry Line line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 5…Bg7.

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