ECO B00 · Hippopotamus Defense

Hippopotamus Defense

1. e4 Nh6

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2. Nc3+0.98

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Hippopotamus Defense (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.98).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.982. Nc3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf5 6. Nf3 Be7
  2. +0.962. d4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Qa5 5. Bd3 dxe4 6. Bxe4 Ng4
  3. +0.942. Nf3 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nbd2 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. O-O dxe4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 Nh6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 f6

All Hippopotamus Defense variations (0)

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best move in the Hippopotamus Defense?
    After 1. e4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. Nc3 for White, continuing e6 3. d4 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf5 6. Nf3 Be7. White is clearly better (+0.98). The next best moves are 2. d4 (+0.96) and 2. Nf3 (+0.94).
    Is the Hippopotamus Defense a good opening?
    Stockfish rates the position at +0.98: 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 Hippopotamus Defense?
    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+).