ECO A40 · Montevideo Defense

Montevideo Defense

1. d4 Nc6 2. d5 Nb8

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

3. e4+0.78

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Montevideo Defense (A40), reached after 1. d4 Nc6 2. d5 Nb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.78).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.783. e4 d6 4. c4 g6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O
  2. +0.693. c4 e5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 e4 6. Nd4 Nf6 7. a3 Bc5
  3. +0.673. Nc3 Nf6 4. e4 e5 5. Bd3 Be7 6. Nge2 c6 7. O-O d6

All Montevideo Defense variations (0)

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best move in the Montevideo Defense?
    After 1. d4 Nc6 2. d5 Nb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e4 for White, continuing d6 4. c4 g6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.78). The next best moves are 3. c4 (+0.69) and 3. Nc3 (+0.67).
    Is the Montevideo Defense a good opening?
    Stockfish rates the position at +0.78: 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 Montevideo Defense?
    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+).