ECO A00 · Ware Opening

Ware Opening: Crab Variation

1. a4 e5 2. h4

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

2… d5−0.91

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ware Opening: Crab Variation (A00), reached after 1. a4 e5 2. h4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.91).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.912… d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bd6 5. d3 c6 6. e4 O-O 7. Ne2
  2. −0.892… Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bd6 5. d3 c6 6. e4 O-O 7. Ne2
  3. −0.842… Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. g3 h6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. d3 Be6 7. b4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ware Opening: Crab Variation?
After 1. a4 e5 2. h4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bd6 5. d3 c6 6. e4 O-O 7. Ne2. Black is clearly better (−0.91). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (−0.89) and 2… Nc6 (−0.84).
Is the Ware Opening: Crab Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.91: black 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 Ware Opening: Crab 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+).