Chess Opening Theory/1. Nf3

1. Zukertort Opening
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/5N2/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKB1R
Moves: 1.Nf3
ECO code: A04-A10

1. Zukertort Opening

1.Nf3

White's options are kept flexible as White could intend to play the Réti Opening or the King's Indian Attack, although it can easily transpose into something else, including the Sicilian Defence. Other reasons for playing 1. Nf3 go something along the lines of:

White hates playing against Variation X, but doesn't mind Variation Y. White plays 1. Nf3 as a request for information. If Black attempts to transpose into Variation X, which White hates, White will refuse to allow it and play an independent line instead. If Black attempts to transpose into Variation Y, White will go along with that.

Example: A player who hates facing the Queen's Gambit Declined but doesn't mind the Dutch Defence plays 1. Nf3. If it is answered with 1...f5 he will play 2. d4 transposing into the Dutch, but if 1...d5 appears then he will go for a King's Indian Attack with 2. g3. A player whose preferences were the other way around might answer 1...d5 with 2. d4 (allowing a QGD) but 1...f5 with 2. e4!?, the Lisitsin Gambit (not allowing the Dutch).

One general point though: because 1. Nf3 prevents 1...e5, it has more in common with 1. d4 openings (and some 1. c4 openings) than with those following 1. e4. It is also a popular way for White to set up a King's Indian formation.

Black can play almost anything comfortably at this point, and the following options are merely some of the more common replies.

Statistics

Approximate chances: White win 37%, Draw 36%, Black win 27%
Estimated next move popularity: Nf6 49%, d5 25%, c5 11%, g6 5%, f5 3%, d6 3%, e6 2% other moves less than 2%

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation

1. Nf3

	1	2	3	4	5	6
	Nf3 d5	g3 Nf6	Bg2 c6	O-O Bg4	d3 Nbd7	Nbd2 e5	=
	... Nf6	d4	See	1. d4	Nf6	2. Nf3
	... c5	g3 Nc6	Bg2 g6	1.e4	g6	2. Nf3
	... g6	e4
	... d6	d4 Bg4	=
	... f5	e4 fxe4	Ng5 Nf6	=

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References

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

• Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.