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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).