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 1 playable continuation 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: Kingside Fianchetto
10 plies
Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Accepted
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. 1g6

    Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  3. 2.d4

    Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  4. 2Bg7

    Develops the bishop to g7, bringing it into the game.

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

  5. 3.e4

    Advances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  6. 3d6

    Advances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  7. 4.c4

    Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  8. 4c5

    Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

  9. 5.dxc5

    Captures the pawn on c5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

1 move

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.

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