ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Shabalov Gambit

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b5

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

5. cxb5+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Shabalov Gambit (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. cxb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.645. cxb5 Nf6 6. a4 axb5 7. Nxb5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 Bb7
  2. +0.605. b3 b4 6. Na4 Bb7 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O d6 9. d4 Nbd7
  3. +0.365. d3 b4 6. Ne4 Bb7 7. Bg2 Be7 8. a3 f5 9. Ned2 a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Shabalov Gambit?
After 1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. cxb5 for White, continuing Nf6 6. a4 axb5 7. Nxb5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 Bb7. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 5. b3 (+0.60) and 5. d3 (+0.36).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Shabalov Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: 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: Shabalov Gambit?
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+).