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English, Symmetrical Variation (A32)
1 c4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6

Number of games in database: 412
Years covered: 1904 to 2013
Overall record:
   White wins 31.3%
   Black wins 30.6%
   Draws 38.1%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Nukhim Rashkovsky  8 games
Boris Gelfand  6 games
Levon Aronian  6 games
Paul Keres  7 games
Jan Timman  7 games
Lev Alburt  7 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Karpov vs Topalov, 1994
C Jauregui vs J de Souza Mendes, 1959
F Olafsson vs Tal, 1971
Vaganian vs A Planinc, 1974
Aronian vs Carlsen, 2008
Reshevsky vs Fischer, 1970
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 page 1 of 17; games 1-25 of 412  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. S Johnston vs H Voigt  0-144 1904 Chicago CC-Franklin CCA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
2. Colle vs Yates  0-127 1927 KecskemetA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
3. Reti vs G Norman  ½-½31 1927 Hastings 1926/27A32 English, Symmetrical Variation
4. Capablanca vs Spielmann ½-½30 1928 5, BudapestA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
5. G A Thomas vs Marshall  0-125 1929 KarlsbadA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
6. Nimzowitsch vs Rubinstein 0-130 1930 San RemoA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
7. Alekhine vs E Steiner 1-036 1931 Praha ol (17)A32 English, Symmetrical Variation
8. Morozkov vs Ilyin-Zhenevsky  0-130 1931 Ch URS (1/2 final)A32 English, Symmetrical Variation
9. F Kunert vs Spielmann  1-050 1933 EbenseeA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
10. S Landau vs R Rey Ardid  ½-½56 1936 OstendA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
11. W Winter vs Menchik  1-027 1937 Hastings 1936/37A32 English, Symmetrical Variation
12. I Raud vs Keres  ½-½42 1938 Tallinn, Est team chA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
13. R Navarro vs Keres  0-122 1943 MadridA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
14. C Kottnauer vs F Vasicek  1-027 1943 ZlinA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
15. M Beilin vs Keres 0-137 1945 Tallinn, Kalev-Daugava team mA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
16. Nerzesov vs Keres 0-119 1946 TbilisiA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
17. Kholmov vs Keres 0-140 1947 MoscowA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
18. L Taro vs G Schain  0-134 1948 Puget Sound LeagueA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
19. Taimanov vs Pachman  ½-½33 1952 13 SaltsjobadenA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
20. Petrosian vs Keres ½-½41 1953 Zurich CandidatesA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
21. R Bobecov vs Keres 0-139 1954 Amsterdam ol finalA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
22. Filip vs Stahlberg  ½-½11 1954 BucharestA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
23. Filip vs Pachman  ½-½39 1954 CSR-ch mA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
24. G Lorson vs A Nielsen  ½-½21 1954 Amsterdam ol (Men)A32 English, Symmetrical Variation
25. G Kluger vs J Hajtun  ½-½18 1954 HUN-ch 10thA32 English, Symmetrical Variation
 page 1 of 17; games 1-25 of 412  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-12-02
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: Black wins more than White in this variation!!
Feb-13-04  marcus13: Because to be in this opening whit cannot continues by Nf3 because it would be an atoher opening. This is the reason why Black win all thoses games.
Jun-19-07  nummerzwei: I have to admit that I do not understand your comment. You perhaps only typed to fast, but I donīt think it is not desirable for white to move his knight back to f3 in this line. I suppose you meant Nc3, butif black continues differently than 5...Nc6 (A33), for example with 5...Bb4, itīs still A32.(There are in fact some Nimzo-Indian games starting with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 cxd4 listed under A32.) Iīm looking forward to your answer.
Sep-06-07  simsim: We have the following definitions:
A33: 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nc6 and
A32: 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cd4 4. Nd4 e6

The Nimzo-lines that occur after 5. Nc3 Lb4 are not the mainlines, but rather non-critical sidelines. Together with all other white's 5. move deviations, A32 contains a lot of second rate moves. Only 5.g3 seems like a first rate move, but its performance is not overwhelming. I think this explains the bad statistic for white in this variation.

Sep-06-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Domdaniel: <simsim> -- <I think this explains the bad statistic for white in this variation.> This is true, up to a point. But Black has consistently scored well in both the A32 and A33 lines, especially in the last ten or twenty years. I used to play the English most of the time as White, but I gave it up, largely because of the Symmetrical Variation. I recall Ray Keene saying some years ago that he'd come to the conclusion that 3.d4 was a mistake (eg, 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4).

I think the Closed Symmetrical, where White avoids playing d4, is still OK, but can lead to very dull drawish positions.

May-04-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: Modern Benoni players who are frustrated by 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 should take heart from this variation. You might not get to play your pride and joy, but you can get a good position as compensation.
Sep-20-10  rapidcitychess: I love playing this as black all the time.
You just get piece play, and white gets a Sicilian, which I am fine with.
Mar-30-11  Penguincw: Opening of the Day:
English, Symmetrical Variation
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6
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