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 8 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
3 plies
Nimzo-Larsen Variation
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.

  2. 1…Nf6

    Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

8 moves
g3Zukertort Opening10 named lines · King's Indian Attack · King's Indian Attack, with e6Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a4Zukertort Opening1 named line · Zukertort Opening: Myers Polish AttackAdvances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.b3Zukertort Opening: Nimzo-Larsen 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.b4Zukertort Opening1 named line · Polish Opening: Zukertort SystemAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.c4English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Knight Variation1 named line · Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, New York SystemAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e3Zukertort Opening: Quiet System1 named lineAdvances to e3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.e4Zukertort Opening: Lemberger Gambit1 named lineAdvances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nc3Zukertort Opening1 named lineDevelops the knight to c3, 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.