ECO A00 · Creepy Crawly Formation

Creepy Crawly Formation: Classical Defense

1. h3 d5 2. a3 e5

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

3. e3−0.44

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Creepy Crawly Formation: Classical Defense (A00), reached after 1. h3 d5 2. a3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.443. e3 Bd6 4. d4 e4 5. c4 c6 6. Bd2 Bc7 7. Ne2 Ne7
  2. −0.593. d3 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1+
  3. −0.653. g3 c5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. O-O Bf5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Creepy Crawly Formation: Classical Defense?
After 1. h3 d5 2. a3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e3 for White, continuing Bd6 4. d4 e4 5. c4 c6 6. Bd2 Bc7 7. Ne2 Ne7. Black is slightly better (−0.44). The next best moves are 3. d3 (−0.59) and 3. g3 (−0.65).
Is the Creepy Crawly Formation: Classical Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.44: black is slightly 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 Creepy Crawly Formation: Classical Defense?
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+).