Symmetric Variation

The Symmetric Variation, 1...a5, answers the Ware Opening by copying it. Its point is prophylactic. It stops the advance a4-a5, which an informed White player would follow with Ra4, and so removes much of the value of the first move. The most frequent continuations are 2. b3, 2. Ra3 and 2. h4, and the last of these scores well for White. Engines prefer central moves such as 2. e4, 2. Nc3 and 2. d4, and rate the position roughly level.