ECO A00 · Ware Opening

Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap

1. a4 e5 2. Ra3

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

2… Bxa3−2.26

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap (A00), reached after 1. a4 e5 2. Ra3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Bxa3 for Black. Black is winning (−2.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −2.262… Bxa3 3. Nxa3 Nc6 4. b3 d5 5. e3 Nh6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. Bb2
  2. −1.082… Nc6 3. Ra1 d5 4. d3 Be6 5. Nf3 Qe7 6. e3 h5 7. Nbd2
  3. −1.032… d5 3. Ra1 Nc6 4. e3 Bd6 5. d4 Nf6 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap?
After 1. a4 e5 2. Ra3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Bxa3 for Black, continuing 3. Nxa3 Nc6 4. b3 d5 5. e3 Nh6 6. Ne2 O-O 7. Bb2. Black is winning (−2.26). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (−1.08) and 2… d5 (−1.03).
Is the Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −2.26: black is winning. 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: Meadow Hay Trap?
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+).