ECO A00 · Van Geet Opening

Van Geet Opening: Laroche Gambit

1. Nc3 b5

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

2. Nxb5+1.18

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Van Geet Opening: Laroche Gambit (A00), reached after 1. Nc3 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. Nxb5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.18).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.182. Nxb5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O c5
  2. +0.522. a3 a6 3. d4 d5 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb7 6. Bd3 e6
  3. +0.272. d4 b4 3. Na4 Bb7 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nf3 d6 6. g3 g6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Van Geet Opening: Laroche Gambit?
After 1. Nc3 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. Nxb5 for White, continuing Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O c5. White is clearly better (+1.18). The next best moves are 2. a3 (+0.52) and 2. d4 (+0.27).
Is the Van Geet Opening: Laroche Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.18: 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 Van Geet Opening: Laroche Gambit?
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+).