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ECO A04Flank opening

Zukertort Opening

The move that promises nothing and keeps everything open

  • Positional play

1.Nf3 is a flexible move: the knight steps towards the centre, eyes e5 and does not force White to choose a structure yet. It is less a single opening than a doorway: after Black replies, White can head for a Queen's Gambit, a Catalan, an English or a kingside-fianchetto system. People play it to dodge unwanted theory and steer into familiar positions on their own terms.

Interactive Opening Board

5…O-O

♚
Black
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♔
White
5…O-O
Speed:

Moves

(10 plies • 5 moves)
5…O-OTabiya
  1. 1–5moves
  2. 1.
  3. 2.
  4. 3.
  5. 4.
  6. 5.

Defining move

1.Nf3 — the piece first, the decision later

The move that keeps every road open

The knight on f3 stops Black from playing …e5 at once and yet commits no pawn. White can follow with d4, c4, g3 or e4, depending on the reply. That is why the opening so often turns into other, better-known openings.

Tabiya

A Catalan set-up

One of the most common positions after 1.Nf3: White has a bishop on g2 and has castled, and Black has answered in kind with d5, e6, Be7 and castling. White has no central pawns yet, but the g2 bishop presses along the long diagonal at d5 and b7. White wants to play d4 and increase the pressure; Black wants to finish development calmly and answer with …c5 or …dxc4.

White’s plan

  • Wait for Black's reply and choose a fitting structure: d4, c4 or g3.
  • Put the bishop on g2 and castle, pressing along the long diagonal.
  • Play d4 at a convenient moment and reach a Catalan-type position.

Black’s plan

  • Take the centre with d5 and e6, or with c5, and not let White arrange the pieces in peace.
  • Develop and castle, leaving the c8 bishop a way out.
  • Challenge the centre with …c5 or …e5 while White still has no central pawns.

History

The opening is named after Johannes Zukertort. Later 1.Nf3 was often called the Réti as well, though that name is more narrowly tied to the system 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4.

Legends who played it

Lines below