ECO A06 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: The Potato

1. Nf3 d5 2. a4

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

2… c5−0.19

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

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: The Potato (A06), reached after 1. Nf3 d5 2. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.19).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.192… c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Bb5 e6 5. d4 Bd6 6. O-O Ne7 7. dxc5
  2. −0.172… Bf5 3. d4 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bg6 6. O-O c5 7. c4
  3. −0.142… e6 3. d4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. c4 cxd4 6. exd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: The Potato?
After 1. Nf3 d5 2. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… c5 for Black, continuing 3. e3 Nc6 4. Bb5 e6 5. d4 Bd6 6. O-O Ne7 7. dxc5. The position is roughly equal (−0.19). The next best moves are 2… Bf5 (−0.17) and 2… e6 (−0.14).
Is the Zukertort Opening: The Potato a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.19: 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: The Potato?
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+).