ECO A82 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: Balogh Defense

1. e4 d6 2. d4 f5

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

3. Nc3+1.06

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: Balogh Defense (A82), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.06).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.063. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Nxf6+ exf6 7. c3 Be6
  2. +0.853. exf5 Bxf5 4. g4 Bc8 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bf4 e6 7. h4 Bd6
  3. +0.783. Nd2 Nf6 4. Bd3 g6 5. c3 e5 6. Ngf3 d5 7. dxe5 Nxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: Balogh Defense?
After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing Nf6 4. Bd3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Nxf6+ exf6 7. c3 Be6. White is clearly better (+1.06). The next best moves are 3. exf5 (+0.85) and 3. Nd2 (+0.78).
Is the Rat Defense: Balogh Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.06: 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 Rat Defense: Balogh Defense?
A82. 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+).