ECO A40 · Mikenas Defense

Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian Variation

1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nce7

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

4. h4+0.74

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian Variation (A40), reached after 1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nce7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. h4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.74).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.744. h4 Nf5 5. Nf3 e4 6. g4 Nfh6 7. g5 exf3 8. gxh6 Nxh6
  2. +0.644. Nf3 Ng6 5. h4 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 h5 7. g3 Nf6 8. Ng5 c6
  3. +0.584. g3 Ng6 5. h4 Bc5 6. Nc3 d6 7. h5 N6e7 8. h6 Nxh6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian Variation?
After 1. d4 Nc6 2. c4 e5 3. d5 Nce7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. h4 for White, continuing Nf5 5. Nf3 e4 6. g4 Nfh6 7. g5 exf3 8. gxh6 Nxh6. White is slightly better (+0.74). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+0.64) and 4. g3 (+0.58).
Is the Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.74: white 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 Mikenas Defense: Lithuanian 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+).