ECO A06 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Santasiere's Folly

1. b4 d5 2. Nf3

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

2… e5−0.17

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Santasiere's Folly (A06), reached after 1. b4 d5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… e5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.172… e5 3. Nxe5 Bxb4 4. e3 Nf6 5. c4 O-O 6. Bb2 Nc6 7. Nf3
  2. −0.162… Nf6 3. Bb2 Bg4 4. e3 e6 5. b5 a6 6. a4 axb5 7. axb5
  3. −0.162… e6 3. a3 c5 4. bxc5 Bxc5 5. d4 Be7 6. e3 Nf6 7. Bd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Santasiere's Folly?
After 1. b4 d5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… e5 for Black, continuing 3. Nxe5 Bxb4 4. e3 Nf6 5. c4 O-O 6. Bb2 Nc6 7. Nf3. The position is roughly equal (−0.17). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (−0.16) and 2… e6 (−0.16).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Santasiere's Folly a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.17: the position is roughly equal. 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: Santasiere's Folly?
A06. 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+).