ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation

1. Nf3 f6 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7

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

4. Be3+1.12

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 f6 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Be3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.12).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.124. Be3 e6 5. a3 Be7 6. c4 d6 7. Be2 c5 8. Nc3 O-O
  2. +1.114. Be2 e6 5. a3 Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 d6 8. Qc2 c5
  3. +1.054. Bd3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 e5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be3 a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation?
After 1. Nf3 f6 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Be3 for White, continuing e6 5. a3 Be7 6. c4 d6 7. Be2 c5 8. Nc3 O-O. White is clearly better (+1.12). The next best moves are 4. Be2 (+1.11) and 4. Bd3 (+1.05).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.12: 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 Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken 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+).