Formation: Hippopotamus Attack
1. a3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. e3 Bd6 6. f3 O-O 7. g3
7… Re8−1.82
Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Formation: Hippopotamus Attack (A00), reached after 1. a3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. e3 Bd6 6. f3 O-O 7. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Re8 for Black. Black is winning (−1.82).
Top engine moves
- −1.827… Re8 8. Ne2 h5 9. c4 e4 10. fxe4 dxe4 11. d4 Bg4 12. Nbc3
- −1.757… e4 8. dxe4 dxe4 9. f4 Ne7 10. Ne2 Bg4 11. Qc2 Qd7 12. Bg2
- −1.707… Qe7 8. e4 Rd8 9. Qc2 a5 10. Nh3 b5 11. Nf2 Be6 12. Bg2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Formation: Hippopotamus Attack?
After 1. a3 e5 2. b3 d5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. e3 Bd6 6. f3 O-O 7. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Re8 for Black, continuing 8. Ne2 h5 9. c4 e4 10. fxe4 dxe4 11. d4 Bg4 12. Nbc3. Black is winning (−1.82). The next best moves are 7… e4 (−1.75) and 7… Qe7 (−1.70).
Is the Formation: Hippopotamus Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.82: black is winning. 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 Formation: Hippopotamus Attack?
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+).