ECO A56 · Vulture Defense

Vulture Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 Ne4

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

4. Qc2+1.10

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vulture Defense (A56), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 Ne4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qc2 for White. White is clearly better (+1.10).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.104. Qc2 Nf6 5. f4 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Nf3 Bg4
  2. +1.014. Qd3 Nf6 5. e4 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O
  3. +0.974. e3 d6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. e4 e6 7. Nc3 g6 8. f4 Bg7

All Vulture Defense variations (0)

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the best move in the Vulture Defense?
    After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 Ne4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qc2 for White, continuing Nf6 5. f4 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Nf3 Bg4. White is clearly better (+1.10). The next best moves are 4. Qd3 (+1.01) and 4. e3 (+0.97).
    Is the Vulture Defense a good opening?
    Stockfish rates the position at +1.10: 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 Vulture Defense?
    A56. 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+).