What does a chess player need who is familiar with the rules, but often gets into trouble right away in the opening? This question was the starting point for the authors before they began to compile the material for a book about the English Opening. As their work progressed, they realized that there was too much material to be accommodated in a single work. That's why they decided to divide it into two volumes. Volume 1 deals with the Symmetrical Variation, which is characterized by the moves c2-c4 and c7-c5. It is presented in an introduction and 6 following chapters, which are designed according to the guidelines of the series 'read - understand - play'. The opening lines are explained in detail, with the authors paying special attention to the presentation of the inherent ideas and plans to ensure that the reader understands them properly instead of just playing moves learned by