ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation

1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6

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

3. Nc3+1.35

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.353. Nc3 f6 4. d4 Nf7 5. e5 e6 6. exf6 gxf6 7. d5 f5
  2. +1.343. Bxa6 bxa6 4. O-O f6 5. d4 Nf7 6. c4 e6 7. Be3 Be7
  3. +1.303. d4 c6 4. Nc3 Nc7 5. Bxh6 gxh6 6. Ne2 d5 7. e5 Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation?
After 1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing f6 4. d4 Nf7 5. e5 e6 6. exf6 gxf6 7. d5 f5. White is clearly better (+1.35). The next best moves are 3. Bxa6 (+1.34) and 3. d4 (+1.30).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.35: 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: Drunken Cavalry 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+).