ECO A04 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: The Walrus

1. Nf3 e5 2. Nxe5 Nc6 3. Nxc6 dxc6

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

4. d3+1.32

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: The Walrus (A04), reached after 1. Nf3 e5 2. Nxe5 Nc6 3. Nxc6 dxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.324. d3 Be6 5. Nd2 Qd7 6. Nf3 O-O-O 7. g3 Re8 8. Bg2 Bh3
  2. +1.224. e3 h5 5. d3 Be6 6. Bd2 Qg5 7. Nc3 O-O-O 8. Ne2 Nf6
  3. +1.184. Nc3 Be6 5. g3 Qd7 6. d3 O-O-O 7. h4 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: The Walrus?
After 1. Nf3 e5 2. Nxe5 Nc6 3. Nxc6 dxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d3 for White, continuing Be6 5. Nd2 Qd7 6. Nf3 O-O-O 7. g3 Re8 8. Bg2 Bh3. White is clearly better (+1.32). The next best moves are 4. e3 (+1.22) and 4. Nc3 (+1.18).
Is the Zukertort Opening: The Walrus a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.32: white is clearly 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: The Walrus?
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+).