English Opening: Symmetrical, Anti-Benoni, Geller Variations

Definition

The English Opening starts with 1. c4. When Black mirrors the move with …c5 the game enters the Symmetrical English. If White then strikes in the centre with an early d4, reaching pawn structures that resemble a Benoni Defense but with colours reversed, the line is dubbed the Anti-Benoni Variation. When Black answers with …e6 (often followed by …d5) the position is further refined into the Geller Variation, named after the Soviet grandmaster Efim Geller, who devoted extensive analysis to the setup in the 1960s–70s.

Typical Move Order

A common sequence is:

1. 1. c4 c5  (Symmetrical English)
2. 2. Nf3 Nf6
3. 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6  (Anti-Benoni → Geller)
4. 5. g3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg2 Be7  8. O-O O-O

Strategic Themes

• Central Tension: After …d5, both sides vie for control of the d- and e-files. White enjoys a slight space edge, while Black’s structure is solid and flexible.
• Minor-Piece Activity: Knights usually occupy c3/c6 and f3/f6. White’s dark-squared bishop shines on g2; Black’s often develops to e7 or b4.
• Reversed Logic: Plans from the Benoni, Benko, or Queen’s Gambit Declined appear, but with colours reversed and White holding an extra tempo.
• Key Pawn Breaks:
  • White: b2-b4, e2-e4, or Nxc6 followed by Qxd5.
  • Black: …d4, …dxc4, or …Bb4 to increase central pressure.

Illustrative Games

• Geller vs. Portisch, Moscow 1967 – A model demonstration of Black’s …e6/…d5 plan leading to a queenside minority attack.
• Karpov vs. Ljubojević, Linares 1981 – Karpov exploited the long-term power of the g2-bishop to squeeze a positional win.
• Kasparov vs. Short, Candidates 1993 – Showed dynamic pawn play, with Kasparov sacrificing on e4 to unleash tactical threats.

Historical Significance

Efim Geller’s analysis revealed that Black could comfortably meet the early d2-d4 thrust with the compact …e6/…d5 setup. His ideas were adopted by Boris Spassky, later refined by Lajos Portisch and Anatoly Karpov, and today engines confirm that Black’s position is fully viable.

Practical Tips

• For White
  • Do not rush e2-e4; prepare it with Re1 or Qb3.
  • If Black delays …d5, consider 6.Nc3 and 7.Bg5 to provoke weaknesses.
• For Black
  • After 4…e6, be ready for 5.Nc3 Bb4, challenging the d4-knight.
  • Break with …d5 at the first convenient moment; exchanges often leave Black with a comfortable symmetrical structure.

Interesting Facts

• The line is cross-referenced under ECO codes A36-A39 and D32 because it can arise from both 1.c4 and 1.d4 move orders.
• During the 1960s Geller scored over 70 % with Black in this variation, defeating elite opponents such as Keres and Smyslov.
• Modern engines rate the starting Anti-Benoni position as roughly equal (≈ 0.20), underscoring its solidity for Black despite White’s extra tempo.