ECO A40 · Mikenas Defense

Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation

1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nd4

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

4. Nc3+0.86

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation (A40), reached after 1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.86).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.864. Nc3 d6 5. e3 Nf5 6. Nf3 Nh4 7. Nxh4 Qxh4 8. e4 Qd8
  2. +0.864. e3 Nf5 5. Nf3 d6 6. Nc3 Nh4 7. Nxh4 Qxh4 8. e4 Qd8
  3. +0.724. a3 d6 5. e3 Nf5 6. e4 Nd4 7. Ne2 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation?
After 1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nc3 for White, continuing d6 5. e3 Nf5 6. Nf3 Nh4 7. Nxh4 Qxh4 8. e4 Qd8. White is clearly better (+0.86). The next best moves are 4. e3 (+0.86) and 4. a3 (+0.72).
Is the Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.86: 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 Mikenas Defense: Cannstatter 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+).