ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense

1. Nf3 h6

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

2. e4+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.632. e4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Bd7
  2. +0.552. c4 e6 3. e4 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. exd5 Nf6 6. Bc4 Nxd5
  3. +0.542. d4 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 c5 6. Nc3 Be7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense?
After 1. Nf3 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. e4 for White, continuing e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Bd7. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 2. c4 (+0.55) and 2. d4 (+0.54).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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 Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense?
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+).