ECO A00 · Van Geet Opening

Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation

1. a3 e5 2. Nc3

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

2… d5−0.34

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation (A00), reached after 1. a3 e5 2. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.34).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.342… d5 3. d4 e4 4. Bf4 Be7 5. f3 f5 6. Nb5 Na6 7. e3
  2. −0.232… Nc6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nf3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bb5 Nxc3 7. bxc3
  3. −0.112… Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd3 d5 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bf4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation?
After 1. a3 e5 2. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. d4 e4 4. Bf4 Be7 5. f3 f5 6. Nb5 Na6 7. e3. Black is slightly better (−0.34). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (−0.23) and 2… Nf6 (−0.11).
Is the Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.34: 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 Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation?
A00. 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+).