English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A39), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4.

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, Mecking Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A39. 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 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4.

It belongs to the English Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Symmetrical Variation → Mecking Variation line). The immediate parent line is English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, transitioned via 7.d4.

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