ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening

1. e4 e5 2. a3

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

2… Nf6−0.18

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. a3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Nf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.18).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.182… Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d3 a6 7. Bg5
  2. −0.132… Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qd6 7. Nxe4
  3. −0.042… Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 Bb6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. a3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Nf6 for Black, continuing 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d3 a6 7. Bg5. The position is roughly equal (−0.18). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (−0.13) and 2… Bc5 (−0.04).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.18: 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 King's Pawn Game: Mengarini's Opening?
C20. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

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