Caissa Codex
A30

English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation

Chess diagram: English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation after 10…Nbd7

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

4,560 games: White 45.7% / Draw 11.1% / Black 43.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,6791,679
1,3311,331
1,2281,228
161161
5353
2020
1717
1212

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 22, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.07 The position is about equal

Best play: 11. e4 Rc8 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. Ne1 O-O 14. Qe3 Qc7 15. Nd3 Ng4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation (ECO A30, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: Agincourt Defense, reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7 (10 moves).

In 4,560 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.7%, Black 43.3% and 11.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Bb2, in 37% of those games.

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How to play against the English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation

11. e4 scores best for White: 58.1%, with White winning 50.2% and Black 34.1% of 1,228 games. The most played, 11. Bb2, scores 49.0% in 1,679 games, and 11. Ba3 scores lowest: 47.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 11. e4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2…c5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. b3 Nbd7, the position after English Opening: Agincourt Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “English Opening: Symmetrical, Hedgehog, Flexible Formation (A30)”. Lichess data as of 22 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-symmetrical-hedgehog-flexible-formation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-symmetrical-hedgehog-flexible-formation