ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation

1. Nf3 c5

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

2. e4+0.53

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.532. e4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6
  2. +0.332. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. e3 Rc8
  3. +0.192. e3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. c4 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Qc7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation?
After 1. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. e4 for White, continuing g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6. White is slightly better (+0.53). The next best moves are 2. c4 (+0.33) and 2. e3 (+0.19).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.53: 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: Sicilian Invitation?
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+).