Download or read book The Symmetrical English written by Carsten Hansen and published by Gambit Publications. This book was released on 2000 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Symmetrical systems of the English Opening constitute a large and important area of modern chess opening theory. The strategic variety to be found within this book is staggering: from the sedate Symmetrical Variation to the wild gambit lines of the Anti-Benoni, and almost everything in between! Hansen provides detailed coverage of the theory of all lines stemming from 1 c4 c5, including many variations that often arise from different openings entirely, such as the SemiTarrasch or when White avoids a Benko or Benoni. A particular highlight is the discussion of the Hedgehog, which is a popular workhorse for many tournament players, as it enables Black to play for a win without taking undue risks. Throughout the book, Hansen shows that in many lines regarded by a lot of players as boring and uninteresting, there is plenty of scope to liven the game up, as long as one is familiar with the subtleties.