Zukertort Opening · A04
The Walrus
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.
The first 4 moves, explained
- 1. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. Theory calls this the Zukertort Opening.
- 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.
- 2. Nxe5 Takes the pawn on e5.
- 2... Nc6 Develops the knight with tempo - it attacks the knight on e5.
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Where this fits
This line is one of 47 in the Zukertort Opening. If you want to know where your own games leave it, the guide on leaving theory explains how that is found.