ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit

1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3

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

3… dxe3−0.70

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe3 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.703… dxe3 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. c4 b6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2
  2. +0.143… Nf6 4. exd4 d5 5. Ne5 g6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Nxd7 Nbxd7 8. c3
  3. +0.243… d5 4. exd4 Nf6 5. Ne5 Nc6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Bb5 Rc8 8. h4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit?
After 1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe3 for Black, continuing 4. Bxe3 Nf6 5. c4 b6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. g3 Bb7 8. Bg2. Black is slightly better (−0.70). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (+0.14) and 3… d5 (+0.24).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.70: black 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: Speelsmet 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+).