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

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. c4
English Opening - Symmetrical Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black kingd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black pawnd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white pawnd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/2P5/8/PP1PPPPP/RNBQKBNR w

Moves: 1. c4 c5

English Opening - Symmetrical Variation

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1...c5

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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

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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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Wikipedia has related information at English Opening

References

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