Chessy
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4 – Black's Repertoire
After 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6, White pushes 3.e4, immediately seizing space in the centre. In the resulting position Black has already played ...g6, preparing to fianchetto the light-squared bishop and fight for the dark squares. Stockfish evaluates this as -0.14, a dead-level position — you are neither better nor worse here. The statistics from over 211,000 real games confirm you actually score over 52% as Black, so there is plenty of reason to feel confident. Let the drill below help you find the most comfortable responses and learn where the critical decisions lie.
Play the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4 against the engine
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White's 3.e4 stakes a claim to d5 and f5, while Black's ...g6 signals a hypermodern approach: you are happy to let White occupy the centre early, then chip away at it piece by piece. The typical plan involves developing the king's bishop to g7, where it will pressure d4 and e5, and later challenging White's centre with moves like ...d6 and ...Bg7. Because the position is symmetrical in structure (both sides have a pawn on c4/c5 and knights on c3/c6), small differences in development can decide who gets the better middlegame. Your early priority is to get the king to safety with ...Bg7 and ...O-O, then decide whether to play ...d6 or ...e6, depending on where White puts their pieces.
What the Database Reveals
From 211,172 games at this exact position, Black wins 52.8% of the time, White wins 43.3%, and only 4.0% end in draws. That is a remarkable practical edge for the second player. The most popular reply by White is 4.Nf3 (79,839 games), where White scores just 41.8% — meaning you win as Black in well over half those games. The second most common move, 4.d3 (61,154 games), also gives White a modest 45.4% score. White's best-scoring major option is 4.Nge2 at 47.1%, but it's played rarely (5,845 games). The engine prefers 4.g3, a flexible fianchetto setup, but even that yields only 46.7% for White in practice. All of this tells you one thing: Black is doing fine here, and you can play several different systems confidently.
Dealing with 4.Nf3 – The Most Common Reply
Almost 80,000 opponents have played 4.Nf3, developing naturally. Since you have already committed to ...g6, continue your plan: 4...Bg7 is the straightforward developing move. White may then choose between 5.d4 (opening the centre quickly) or 5.g3 (transposing toward the engine's preferred line). Against 5.d4, you can capture on d4 or support the centre with ...d6 — either way, the symmetrical pawn structure leads to a game where piece activity matters more than memorised theory. Against 5.g3, just follow the same fianchetto idea: ...d6, ...Nf6, and ...O-O, keeping a solid but flexible setup. Your results in this line are excellent, so trust your development and don't overcomplicate things.
When White Chooses 4.d3 or 4.f4
The move 4.d3 (61,154 games) is a quieter approach — White reinforces the e4 pawn and waits for you to show your hand. Your plan stays the same: develop with ...Bg7, ...d6, and ...Nf6, then castle. White may later try to push d3-d4, at which point you can trade on d4 and play against White's slightly backward development. The move 4.f4 (10,929 games) is more aggressive, aiming for a Botvinnik-style setup with f4 and e4. Here, Black's best reply is ...Bg7 immediately, challenging e5 and f4. A quick ...d5 break is also possible if White delays development. In both cases, your winning percentage stays strong — just stay active and don't let White's extra space become permanent.
Results across 211,172 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 79,839 | 41.8% |
| d3 | 61,154 | 45.4% |
| g3 | 28,389 | 46.7% |
| f4 | 10,929 | 42.2% |
| b3 | 6,880 | 40.1% |
| Nge2 | 5,845 | 47.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening Symmetrical Variation good for Black?
Yes. At this exact position, Stockfish rates it as dead level at -0.14, and Black wins 52.8% of games in practice. You have no reason to fear this opening as Black.
What is White's best move in the Two Knights e4 line?
The engine recommends 4.g3, preparing to fianchetto the king's bishop. However, this move is not the most popular in practice (28,389 games), and White only scores 46.7% with it.
What should Black play against 4.Nf3?
The natural reply is 4...Bg7, continuing the fianchetto plan. White scores just 41.8% in this line over 79,839 games, so you are already scoring well above average.
Why does Black score so well in this opening?
White's extra space with 3.e4 can become a target if they do not follow up accurately. Black's solid fianchetto setup and the symmetrical pawn structure often give Black a comfortable middlegame with good counterplay.
How many games feature the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4?
Over 211K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Two Knights Variation: e4 position. White wins 43.3%, Black wins 52.8%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.