ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation

1. Nf3 b6

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

2. e4+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 b6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.702. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 c5
  2. +0.422. d4 Bb7 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Bxf3
  3. +0.422. Nc3 d5 3. e4 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. Qe2+ Qe7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation?
After 1. Nf3 b6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. e4 for White, continuing Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 c5. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 2. d4 (+0.42) and 2. Nc3 (+0.42).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.70: 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: Queenside Fianchetto 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+).