ECO A40 · Kangaroo Defense

Kangaroo Defense: Keres Defense, Transpositional Variation

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3

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

3… Nf6+0.22

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Kangaroo Defense: Keres Defense, Transpositional Variation (A40), reached after 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.22).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.223… Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
  2. +0.303… d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. a3
  3. +0.363… c5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Kangaroo Defense: Keres Defense, Transpositional Variation?
After 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black, continuing 4. g3 d5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1. The position is roughly equal (+0.22). The next best moves are 3… d5 (+0.30) and 3… c5 (+0.36).
Is the Kangaroo Defense: Keres Defense, Transpositional Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.22: the position is roughly equal. 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 Kangaroo Defense: Keres Defense, Transpositional Variation?
A40. 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+).