ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense

1. Nf3 a6

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

2. e4+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.512. e4 c5 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 cxd4
  2. +0.442. g3 d5 3. d4 g6 4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O c6
  3. +0.362. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 b5 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense?
After 1. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. e4 for White, continuing c5 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 cxd4. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 2. g3 (+0.44) and 2. d4 (+0.36).
Is the Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: 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: St. George Defense?
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+).