Zukertort Opening

Zukertort Opening is a chess opening with the ECO code A04. It goes 1. Nf3. White opens with 1. Nf3 (the Zukertort/Réti knight move). After 1 move 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. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 1... d5, 1... c5, 1... Nf6.

About the Zukertort Opening

White starts with 1.Nf3, a flexible move that develops and controls e5 and d4. White can later go into many different openings.

• It stops ...e5 for now and keeps d4 or c4 options open.
• Common follow-ups are g3, Bg2, O-O (a King's Indian Attack style).
• Black can take the centre with ...d5 and ...c5; react calmly.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Zukertort Opening course lesson.

Related openings

• Continues with: Zukertort Defense: Kingside Variation – adds 1... Nh6 2. d4 g6
• Continues with: Zukertort Defense: Sicilian Knight Variation – adds 1... Na6 2. e4 c5
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense – adds 1... f6
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense – adds 1... h6
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense – adds 1... Nc6
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation – adds 1... Na6 2. e4 Nh6
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation – adds 1... f5
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Herrstrom Gambit – adds 1... g5
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense (1. Nf3 f6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation (1. Nf3 f6 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense (1. Nf3 h6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Black Mustang Defense (1. Nf3 Nc6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation (1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation (1. Nf3 f5)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses