Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation

Van Geet Opening: Battambang Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code A00, part of the Van Geet Opening family. It goes 1. a3 e5 2. Nc3. White opens with 1. a3 (the Anderssen move) and Black answers 1... e5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. a3 – White plays the pawn to a3
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3

About the Van Geet Opening

White starts with 1.Nc3, an offbeat but sound move. It develops a knight and can later turn into a Vienna, a Pirc-like or a d4 game.

• The knight controls e4 and d5; White often follows with e4.
• It blocks the c-pawn, so plans with c4 are harder.
• Black can take the centre with ...d5 and ...e5; White plays for surprise.

Related openings

• It extends: Anderssen's Opening (1. a3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening (1. Nc3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Billockus-Johansen Gambit (1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Bc5)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Damhaug Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. f4 e5)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Dougherty Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. f3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Dunst-Perrenet Gambit (1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. d3)
• Related line: Van Geet Opening: Düsseldorf Gambit (1. Nc3 c5 2. b4)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses