ECO A41 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: English Rat, Lisbon Gambit

1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Nc6

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

4. exd6+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: English Rat, Lisbon Gambit (A41), reached after 1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. exd6 for White. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.304. exd6 Qxd6 5. Qxd6 Bxd6 6. Nf3 Nb4 7. Kd1 Bf5 8. Nd4 Bg6
  2. +0.174. Nf3 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Nc3 Be6 7. e3 Ke8 8. Be2 Nf6
  3. +0.164. e6 Bxe6 5. e4 Qe7 6. Nc3 f5 7. Nh3 Nf6 8. Be2 Nxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: English Rat, Lisbon Gambit?
After 1. d4 d6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. exd6 for White, continuing Qxd6 5. Qxd6 Bxd6 6. Nf3 Nb4 7. Kd1 Bf5 8. Nd4 Bg6. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+0.17) and 4. e6 (+0.16).
Is the Rat Defense: English Rat, Lisbon Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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, Lisbon Gambit?
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+).