How to play symmetrical english dynamically (as black)

Hello,

Played my first OTB match today. Was prepared against 1.d4 and 1.e4. And I intended to play c5 against Nf3 (to invite a sicilian, since I play taimanov).
So he did play 1.Nf3, but followed with c4. So I entered a symmetrical without too much plan. I got outplayed in the opening, but managed to win after he blundered in the middlegame. Any tips to approach actively/dynamically 1.Nf3 and c4 in these symmetrical strcutures? I'd rather keep 1...c5 because of the possiblities to enter a sicilian (or more usual Q-pawn openings like a london).

Cheers

There is a wide choice, but no perfect solution to the problem :

a) Rubinstein's 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3/g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 opening the center, but White here has a whole batch of options, completely different from one to another.

b) The reversed Botvinnik system 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. 0-0 Nge7 7. d3 d6; Black has a lot of space especially with f5 but lot of positional play ahead to manage the weakness on d5 and the kingside attack is not easy to craft.

c) there are some tricky moves in the ultra-symmetrical which is normally a bit dry for Black with no prospect. One of the most interesting tries is 2. c4 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 0-0 8. 0-0 Qa5 instead of the usual exchange on d4.

d) the main roads to keep the play complicated in the Symmetrical English are the Hedgehog and the Double Fianchetto, but it requires some amount of chess knowledge to play them well.

Thank you. I like your first 2 options. Do you believe one might be more “tactical” than the other? When I play people who open with 1.Nf3 and c4 (online), it usually makes me think they want a slow strategical game. Need to try them out.

First one can be anything : 

2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 and now :

a) 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 is the infamous Dresde-Nimzowitsch system, atypical and complicated with a lot of theory, while 6. Bb5+ leads most of the time to an endgame where White has compensation for a pawn but no more.

b) 5. e3 e6 6. d4 is a e3 semi-Tarrasch

c) 5. e3/e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 is a Grünfeld exchange, but in both cases 6. dxc3 leads to the Andersson endgame which is not so easy to handle for Black.

d) 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 is a specific line, not easy to handle either; at least Black can transpose to the Grünfeld with 5... Nxc3 without giving the Andersson endgame option, but White has not moved the e pawn yet so still has a wide choice of systems in the Grünfeld.

e) 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 and now 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. Qe4 is the Geller variation, out of fashion as Black is considered more than fine (see Watson's Secrets of Modern Strategy), and 7. 0-0 e5 is a reversed Maroczy Bind, probably one of the strongest systems for Black in the symmetrical English.

There doesn't look anything wrong with what you played. Playing d4 when white did, 4d4, doesn't look very precise or dangerous. Think Fischer and Tal amongst others played in this way as black.

Waouw thanks, have a lot to work with here!

Thanks, yes I though it was fine I was prepared and then, on move 2 on I was like "oh well, screw my prep, let's just play chess and see". What bothered me is not having a real plan.

Here was the rest of the game (not pretty I warn you all)

I don't recommend the Symmetrical English if you want a dynamic game, it seems like you choose it only because you hope to transpose to a Sicilian but I can assure you if White played Nf3 on move 1 he will never intentionally traspose to an e4 opening

Normally I'd agree, but it happened quite a bit online before I started to play the sicilian that people answered e4 against my c5 (I used to play the benko or blumenfeld gambit...). But I also think you're right

Can't see the game unfortunately

Don't know why... I have posted it twice.
I'll try here below one last time.