ECO A00 · Mieses Opening

Mieses Opening: Venezolana Variation

1. d3 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3

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

3… d5−0.44

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Mieses Opening: Venezolana Variation (A00), reached after 1. d3 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.443… d5 4. Bg2 d4 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. Ne4 f5 7. Nd2 e5 8. Ngf3
  2. −0.253… Nf6 4. e4 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 g6 8. Rb1
  3. −0.213… g6 4. e4 d6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nf3 e6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ne2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Mieses Opening: Venezolana Variation?
After 1. d3 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. Bg2 d4 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. Ne4 f5 7. Nd2 e5 8. Ngf3. Black is slightly better (−0.44). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (−0.25) and 3… g6 (−0.21).
Is the Mieses Opening: Venezolana Variation 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 Mieses Opening: Venezolana Variation?
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+).