Chess Opening Theory/1. c4/1...c5

English Opening - Symmetrical Variation
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. c4 c5

English Opening - Symmetrical Variation edit

1...c5 edit

The Symmetrical Variation. Play varies greatly depending on how White chooses to develop, for instance 2. Nf3 signals that White will try to achieve a favourable break with the d-pawn immediately and Black can then try to impede this break and achieve his own immediate d-pawn break. 2. Nc3 on the other hand makes it harder for Black to achieve that pawn break and signals White´s intention to develop first and then break the symmetry. For instance, common moves for White in this variation include g3, Bg2, e4, Nge2, d3, and O-O (the arising white pawn structure is called the Botvinnik system) with the idea of a pawn break on f4, b4, or even d4. White may also play e3 instead of e4 and once the knight gets to e2 the pawn break on d4 becomes a very attractive possibility.

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. c4 c5
2 3 4 5
Benoni formation Nf3
Nf6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
e6
Nc3
Nc6
=
Queen’s Bishop’s Gambitb4 -/+
Nc3
g6
=
e4
Nc6
=

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References edit