ECO A00 · Barnes Opening

Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag

1. f3 e5 2. Kf2

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… d5−1.55

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag (A00), reached after 1. f3 e5 2. Kf2, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.55).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.552… d5 3. e3 d4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Ne2 Nb4 6. Re1 Qh4+ 7. Kg1
  2. −1.472… Bc5+ 3. e3 d5 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bb5 d4 6. Ne4 Bb6 7. Ke1
  3. −1.452… Nc6 3. e3 d5 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. d4 e4 6. c4 a6 7. Bxc6+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag?
After 1. f3 e5 2. Kf2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. e3 d4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Ne2 Nb4 6. Re1 Qh4+ 7. Kg1. Black is clearly better (−1.55). The next best moves are 2… Bc5+ (−1.47) and 2… Nc6 (−1.45).
Is the Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.55: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).