ECO A41 · Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening: Wade Defense, Chigorin Plan

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. Qb3 Rb8

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5. e4+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Zukertort Opening: Wade Defense, Chigorin Plan (A41), reached after 1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. Qb3 Rb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.545. e4 e5 6. Be3 Ne7 7. d5 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ng6 9. Bxa7 Ra8
  2. +0.475. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bxf3 7. gxf3 e5 8. Be3 Bh6 9. h4 exd4
  3. +0.455. Be3 g6 6. h3 Bxf3 7. exf3 Bg7 8. Nc3 e6 9. O-O-O Ne7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Zukertort Opening: Wade Defense, Chigorin Plan?
After 1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. Qb3 Rb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e4 for White, continuing e5 6. Be3 Ne7 7. d5 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ng6 9. Bxa7 Ra8. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 5. Nc3 (+0.47) and 5. Be3 (+0.45).
Is the Zukertort Opening: Wade Defense, Chigorin Plan a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: 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: Wade Defense, Chigorin Plan?
A41. 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+).