Main line, through 1. Nf3A04
1. Nf3
No pawn stands on d4, e4, d5 or e5 - this line is played with the centre squares empty.
- 1. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. Theory calls this the Zukertort Opening.
A04-A41
Zukertort Opening
47 named lines in this family, ECO A04-A41. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.
Arctic DefenseA04
1. Nf3 f6
- 1... f6 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Arctic Defense.
Basman DefenseA04
1. Nf3 h6
- 1... h6 Takes g5 away from White's knight. Theory calls this the Basman Defense.
Black Mustang DefenseA04
1. Nf3 Nc6
- 1... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5. Theory calls this the Black Mustang Defense.
Dutch VariationA04
1. Nf3 f5
- 1... f5 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Dutch Variation.
Herrstrom GambitA04
1. Nf3 g5
- 1... g5 Opens the f8-h6 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Herrstrom Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Kingside FianchettoA04
1. Nf3 g6
- 1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Kingside Fianchetto.
Pirc InvitationA04
1. Nf3 d6
- 1... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5. Theory calls this the Pirc Invitation.
Polish DefenseA04
1. Nf3 b5
- 1... b5 Opens the c8-a6 diagonal for the bishop. Theory calls this the Polish Defense.
Queen's Gambit InvitationA04
1. Nf3 e6
- 1... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the Queen's Gambit Invitation.
Queenside Fianchetto VariationA04
1. Nf3 b6
- 1... b6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b7. Theory calls this the Queenside Fianchetto Variation.
Ross GambitA04
1. Nf3 e5
In the centre, Black holds e5.
- 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Ross Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Sicilian InvitationA04
1. Nf3 c5
- 1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Sicilian Invitation.
Slav InvitationA04
1. Nf3 c6
- 1... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Slav Invitation.
St. George DefenseA04
1. Nf3 a6
- 1... a6 A useful waiting move that keeps the structure flexible on the a-file. Theory calls this the St. George Defense.
Ware DefenseA04
1. Nf3 a5
- 1... a5 A useful waiting move that grabs space on the a-file. Theory calls this the Ware Defense.
Lisitsyn GambitA04
1. Nf3 f5 2. e4
In the centre, White holds e4.
- 2. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Lisitsyn Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Drunken Cavalry VariationA04
1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6
- 1... Na6 Develops the knight to a6. It backs up the pawn on c7.
- 2... Nh6 Develops the knight to h6. It backs up the pawn on f7. Theory calls this the Drunken Cavalry Variation.
Vos GambitA04
1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 e5
In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds e5.
- 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 2... e5 Theory calls this the Vos Gambit.
Wade DefenseA04
1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Bg4
- 2... Bg4 Develops the bishop with tempo - it attacks the knight on f3. Theory calls this the Wade Defense.
Lisitsyn Gambit DeferredA04
1. Nf3 f5 2. d3 Nf6 3. e4
- 2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4.
- 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
Speelsmet GambitA04
1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.
- 2... cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4, toward the centre.
Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight VariationA04
1. Nf3 f6 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7
In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.
- 2... Nh6 Its usual square f6 is taken by its own pawn.
The WalrusA04
1. Nf3 e5 2. Nxe5 Nc6 3. Nxc6 dxc6
White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.
- 2. Nxe5 Takes the pawn on e5.
- 2... Nc6 Develops the knight with tempo - it attacks the knight on e5.
Shabalov GambitA04
1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b5
- 2. c4 Theory calls this the Agincourt Defense.
Main line, after 1... Nf6, through 1... Nf6A05
1. Nf3 Nf6
Lemberger GambitA05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e4
- 2. e4 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Lemberger Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Nimzo-Larsen VariationA05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3
- 2. b3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b2. Theory calls this the Nimzo-Larsen Variation.
Quiet SystemA05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e3
- 2. e3 Supports the centre, adding control of d4. Theory calls this the Quiet System.
Main line, after 1... Nf6, through 2... Nc6A05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nc3 Nc6
- 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4.
Myers Polish AttackA05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. a4 g6 3. b4
Double Fianchetto AttackA05
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O
White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.
- 2. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2.
- 2... g6 Theory calls this the Symmetrical Defense.
Main line, after 1... d5, through 1... d5A06
1. Nf3 d5
In the centre, Black holds d5.
- 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
Ampel VariationA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. Rg1
- 2. Rg1 Develops the rook to g1. It backs up the pawn on g2. Theory calls this the Ampel Variation.
Old Indian AttackA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. d3
- 2. d3 Theory calls this the Old Indian Attack.
Reversed Mexican DefenseA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. Nc3
- 2. Nc3 Theory calls this the Reversed Mexican Defense.
Santasiere's FollyA06
1. b4 d5 2. Nf3
- 1. b4 Opens the c1-a3 diagonal for the bishop. Theory calls this the Polish Opening.
- 2. Nf3 Theory calls this the Santasiere's Folly.
Tennison GambitA06
1. e4 d5 2. Nf3
In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds d5.
- 1... d5 Theory calls this the Scandinavian Defense.
- 2. Nf3 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Tennison Gambit: development and initiative over material.
The PotatoA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. a4
Pachman GambitA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c5 3. c4 dxc4 4. b3
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the d-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
Regina-Nu GambitA06
1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3
- 2. b3 Theory calls this the Classical Variation.
Tennison Gambit, Brigg's TrapA06
1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qe2 Qd4
An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
- 2... dxe4 Takes the pawn on e4, toward the centre and opens the d-file for the queen.
Reversed Grünfeld, through 4. d4A08
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4
White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.
- 2. g3 Theory calls this the King's Indian Attack.
- 2... c5 Theory calls this the Sicilian Variation.
Reversed Grünfeld, after 4... Nf6, through 4... Nf6A08
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 Nf6
Reversed Grünfeld, after 4... Nf6, through 5. O-OA08
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O
Reversed Grünfeld, after 4... e6, through 5. O-OA08
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 e6 5. O-O
Wade Defense, Chigorin PlanA41
1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. c4 Nd7 4. Qb3 Rb8
In the centre, White holds d4.
- 2. Nf3 It also props up the d4 pawn.
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