A31 English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation
A31 holds two named lines, all under the name English Opening. It leaves A56 (Benoni Defense) with 3.Nf3. White’s pieces and pawns attack six squares in Black’s half, the third-highest count of the 29 English Opening codes. That final move, by the knight, opens a line for the rook on h1.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | c4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | d4 | c5 |
| 3 | Nf3 |
Moves only A31 plays
Same as A15 up to 1...Nf6, then:
- 2.d4 The d-pawn advances two squares to d4, covering c5 and e5, opening a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1.
- 2...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
- 3.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
Lines filed under A31
They begin with two different first moves.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies |
|---|---|---|
| English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation | 1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 c5 3.Nf3 | 5 |
| English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d5 | 10 |
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit
- 1.d4 The d-pawn advances two squares to d4, covering c5 and e5, opening a line for the bishop on c1 and the queen on d1.
- 1...Nf6 The knight leaves g8 for f6, opening a line for the rook on h8.
- 2.c4 The c-pawn advances two squares to c4, covering b5 and d5, opening a line for the queen on d1.
- 2...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
- 3.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
The road to A31
Two of the four named positions on the way are reached by a move order other than their own.
- 1.c4 … 1...Nf6two earlier stops: A10, A15
- 2.d4A50 Normal Variation by another order
- 2...c5A56 Benoni Defense by another order
- 3.Nf3A31
The position after 3.Nf3
White has brought out the knight on f3; Black the knight on f6. Black could capture with cxd4. Black is to move and has 24 legal moves.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| A46 | Indian Defense: Knights Variation | four squares: c2, c4, c5, c7 |
| A50 | Indian Defense: Normal Variation | four squares: g1, f3, c5, c7 |
| D13 | Slav Defense: Exchange Variation | four squares: c4, c5, d5, d7 |
| D23 | Queen’s Gambit Accepted | four squares: c4, c5, c7, d7 |
| E10 | Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian | four squares: c5, e6, c7, e7 |
| A32 | English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation, Spielmann Defense | five squares: f3, d4, c5, e6, e7 |
| A05 | Zukertort Opening | six squares: c2, d2, c4, d4, c5, c7 |