ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense

1. Nf3 Nc6

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

2. d4+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.472. d4 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O
  2. +0.272. e4 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5
  3. +0.122. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bf4 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bxd6 cxd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense?
After 1. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. d4 for White, continuing d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 2. e4 (+0.27) and 2. Nc3 (+0.12).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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: Black Mustang 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+).