ECO A41 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: English Rat

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5

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

3. e3+0.34

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: English Rat (A41), reached after 1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.34).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.343. e3 f5 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nh3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. b4 f4
  2. +0.263. d5 e4 4. Nc3 f5 5. b3 Be7 6. Bb2 Bf6 7. e3 Ne7
  3. +0.223. Nc3 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qd2 a5 7. e3 a4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: English Rat?
After 1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e3 for White, continuing f5 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nh3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. b4 f4. White is slightly better (+0.34). The next best moves are 3. d5 (+0.26) and 3. Nc3 (+0.22).
Is the Rat Defense: English Rat a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.34: 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: English Rat?
A41. 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+).