ECO A00 · Van't Kruijs Opening

Van't Kruijs Opening: Bouncing Bishop Variation

1. e3 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bb3

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

3… Bb7−0.50

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Van't Kruijs Opening: Bouncing Bishop Variation (A00), reached after 1. e3 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bb3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bb7 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.50).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.503… Bb7 4. Nf3 c5 5. d3 e4 6. Nfd2 d5 7. a4 c4 8. Ba2
  2. −0.333… d5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. e4 dxe4 7. Ng5 O-O 8. Nxe4
  3. −0.143… Nf6 4. e4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nxe4 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Nf6 8. Nxe5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Van't Kruijs Opening: Bouncing Bishop Variation?
After 1. e3 e5 2. Bc4 b5 3. Bb3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bb7 for Black, continuing 4. Nf3 c5 5. d3 e4 6. Nfd2 d5 7. a4 c4 8. Ba2. Black is slightly better (−0.50). The next best moves are 3… d5 (−0.33) and 3… Nf6 (−0.14).
Is the Van't Kruijs Opening: Bouncing Bishop Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.50: 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't Kruijs Opening: Bouncing Bishop 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+).