English Opening: Great Snake Variation: Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 is a Grünfeld exchange.
2.e4 builds a big center. After ...e5 3.d4, the engine opens the position with dxe5.
2.Nf3 and d4 keep it flexible and let Black choose between ...d5 and ...d6.
Nc3 and e4 with a kingside fianchetto give a Botvinnik setup that keeps d5 under control.

Black

...Bg7 first. The bishop on the long diagonal presses b2 and the center.
...Nf6 and ...d5 lead to Grünfeld positions against Nc3 and d4.
...c5 can give a symmetrical English with the g7-bishop already placed.
Against 2.e4, ...e5 hits the center at once.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's setup is fixed: ...g6 and ...Bg7. White decides the center. With d4 and Nc3, Black plays ...d5 and Grünfeld lines follow, where the center is challenged with ...c5. With e4 and Nc3, Black plays ...d6 or ...e5 and prepares ...f5. The g7-bishop is Black's key piece; White's plan is to restrict it with d4 and e4 or to trade it.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.32: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

+0.32 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5
+0.26 2.e4 e5 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4
+0.24 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 d5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

5,083 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.1%.

under 120051.7%

1200–159950.7%

1600–199952.9%

2000 and up51.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

Adorjan Defense2.e4 · rare
King's English Variation, Botvinnik System, Prickly Pawn Pass System2.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, decide early which structure you want: d4 for Grünfeld, e4 for King's Indian or Botvinnik. As Black, keep the bishop on g7 and do not commit pawns until White does.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Great Snake Variation?

The English Opening: Great Snake Variation starts 1.c4 g6. Its ECO code is A10.

Is the English Opening: Great Snake Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.32 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 5,083 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.1%. A flexible choice for Black players who know the King's Indian or Grünfeld, though White can steer the game.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Great Snake Variation?

Black fianchettoes first and chooses the central structure later. White chooses d4 for Grünfeld lines or e4 for a broad center.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with e4 and Nf3 close behind. 2.d4 claims the center and invites Grünfeld positions.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.

English Opening: Great Snake Variation