ECO B00 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: Spike Attack

1. e4 d6 2. g4

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

2… d5−0.79

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: Spike Attack (B00), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.79).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.792… d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Nc3 exd3 5. Bxd3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e5 7. Qe2
  2. −0.682… Nf6 3. g5 Nxe4 4. d3 Nc5 5. d4 Nca6 6. h4 d5 7. Nc3
  3. −0.622… e5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. h4 Nd4 5. d3 c6 6. g5 h6 7. Bh3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: Spike Attack?
After 1. e4 d6 2. g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. d3 dxe4 4. Nc3 exd3 5. Bxd3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e5 7. Qe2. Black is slightly better (−0.79). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (−0.68) and 2… e5 (−0.62).
Is the Rat Defense: Spike Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.79: black 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: Spike Attack?
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+).