Flank openings

Zukertort Opening

1.Nf3

The Zukertort Opening starts with 1.Nf3 and is catalogued under ECO A04, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 47 lines inside it, grouped into 41 named variations, and the position after those moves has 19 playable continuations to walk from here.

Opening repertoire map

Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.

Current position
Zukertort Opening
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 1.Nf3

    Develops a knight toward the center, where it controls e5 and d4.

    Idea: Add central influence while preparing to castle kingside.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

19 moves
d5Zukertort Opening37 named lines · Réti Opening · King's Indian AttackAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nf6Zukertort Opening17 named lines · King's Indian Attack · King's Indian Attack, with e6Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c5Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation6 named lines · Pterodactyl Defense · Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet GambitAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.d6Zukertort Opening: Pirc Invitation3 named lines · Zukertort Opening: Vos Gambit · Zukertort Opening: Wade DefenseAdvances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f5Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation3 named lines · Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit · Zukertort Opening: Lisitsyn Gambit DeferredAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e5Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit2 named lines · Zukertort Opening: The WalrusAdvances to e5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.e6Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation2 named lines · Zukertort Opening: Shabalov GambitAdvances to e6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f6Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense2 named lines · Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight VariationAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g6Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto2 named lines · Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation AcceptedAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Na6Zukertort Opening2 named lines · Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation · Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry VariationDevelops the knight to a6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.a5Zukertort Opening: Ware Defense1 named lineAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a6Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense1 named lineAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.b5Zukertort Opening: Polish Defense1 named lineAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.b6Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation1 named lineAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.c6Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation1 named lineAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g5Zukertort Opening: Herrstrom Gambit1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.h6Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense1 named lineAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nc6Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense1 named lineDevelops the knight to c6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nh6Zukertort Opening1 named line · Zukertort Defense: Kingside VariationDevelops the knight to h6, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

Named variations

Each line below is an indexed entry under Zukertort Opening. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.

17 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.

Openings from the same volume

ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Zukertort Opening.