ECO A04 · Zukertort Defense

Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation

1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 c5

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

3. Nc3+1.07

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.07).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.073. Nc3 Nb4 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. a3 Nc6
  2. +1.043. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 e6 5. a3 b6 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. h4 h6
  3. +0.933. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Be2 d6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation?
After 1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing Nb4 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. a3 Nc6. White is clearly better (+1.07). The next best moves are 3. d4 (+1.04) and 3. c3 (+0.93).
Is the Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.07: 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 Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation?
A04. 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+).