ECO B00 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: Antal Defense

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nd7

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

3. f4+0.72

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: Antal Defense (B00), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. f4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.72).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.723. f4 e5 4. Nf3 Ngf6 5. Nc3 c6 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5
  2. +0.653. Nf3 c6 4. e5 e6 5. Be2 dxe5 6. dxe5 Ne7 7. Nbd2 Ng6
  3. +0.643. Nc3 e5 4. f4 Ngf6 5. Nf3 exd4 6. Qxd4 c6 7. Bd2 d5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: Antal Defense?
After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. f4 for White, continuing e5 4. Nf3 Ngf6 5. Nc3 c6 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5. White is slightly better (+0.72). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.65) and 3. Nc3 (+0.64).
Is the Rat Defense: Antal Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.72: 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 Rat Defense: Antal Defense?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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