ECO B00 · Borg Defense

Borg Defense: Troon Gambit

1. e4 g5 2. d4 h6 3. h4 g4

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

4. Nc3+1.58

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Borg Defense: Troon Gambit (B00), reached after 1. e4 g5 2. d4 h6 3. h4 g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.58).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.584. Nc3 d6 5. Nge2 Nf6 6. Ng3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 e6
  2. +1.574. Ne2 e6 5. Nbc3 d5 6. exd5 exd5 7. Nf4 Nf6 8. Bd3 Nc6
  3. +1.524. Be3 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qd2 Nh5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O-O Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Borg Defense: Troon Gambit?
After 1. e4 g5 2. d4 h6 3. h4 g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White, continuing d6 5. Nge2 Nf6 6. Ng3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 e6. White is clearly better (+1.58). The next best moves are 4. Ne2 (+1.57) and 4. Be3 (+1.52).
Is the Borg Defense: Troon Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.58: white 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 Borg Defense: Troon Gambit?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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