ECO A00 · Ware Opening

Ware Opening: Cologne Gambit

1. a4 b6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nd7

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Nxd5+0.75

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ware Opening: Cologne Gambit (A00), reached after 1. a4 b6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.75).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.754. Nxd5 Bb7 5. Nc3 e5 6. dxe5 Bb4 7. Qd4 Qe7 8. Nf3 O-O-O
  2. +0.614. Bf4 Bb7 5. Nb5 e5 6. dxe5 a6 7. Nd4 Qe7 8. Ngf3 g6
  3. +0.384. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb7 6. Bd3 e6 7. Qf3 Rb8 8. Qe2 Ngf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ware Opening: Cologne Gambit?
After 1. a4 b6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxd5 for White, continuing Bb7 5. Nc3 e5 6. dxe5 Bb4 7. Qd4 Qe7 8. Nf3 O-O-O. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 4. Bf4 (+0.61) and 4. e4 (+0.38).
Is the Ware Opening: Cologne Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: white 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 Ware Opening: Cologne 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+).