The Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation is a variation of the English Opening, catalogued as ECO A39. The line runs 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4, reaching the position shown below after 13 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after seven moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the English Opening generally: A flexible opening where White controls the center with c4. Can transpose into many different systems.
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The Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation goes 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4. It is a variation of the English Opening and is catalogued as ECO A39.
The Symmetrical Variation, Mecking Variation is ECO A39. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the English Opening.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 at +0.35 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.