English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3
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Statistics from Lichess
132,858 games: White 47.5% / Draw 7.5% / Black 45.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 85,27885K | ||
| 32,14932K | ||
| 5,3445,344 | ||
| 4,1724,172 | ||
| 3,7793,779 | ||
| 491491 | ||
| 386386 | ||
| 318318 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 5, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.21 The position is about equal
Best play: 6. d3 d6 7. a3 Nge7 8. Rb1 a5 9. Bd2 h6 10. O-O Be6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3 (ECO A37, Flank Openings) is a variation of the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation, reached after 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e5 (5 moves).
In 132,858 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.5%, Black 45.0% and 7.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. O-O, in 64% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations. In all, 5 named lines continue from it.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3
The most played answer, 6. O-O, also scores best for White: 52.2%, with White winning 48.3% and Black 44.0% of 85K games. Of the main answers, 6. d3 scores lowest: 49.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. d3.
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
Variations (2)
All 5 named lines that continue from here
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Botvinnik System Reversed, with Nf3 (A37)”. Lichess data as of 5 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/english-opening-symmetrical-variation-botvinnik-system-reversed-with-nf3