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How to play the Rapport-Jobava System as White
The Rapport-Jobava System begins with a simple idea: develop quickly, keep your structure flexible, and ask Black to choose a plan. After 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4, the position is already rich in practical choices, but the engine calls it perfectly balanced. That makes it ideal training for club players: you do not need to memorise a forcing line, but you do need to know which replies are most common and which one is the engine’s top choice. Use the drill below to test whether you can handle the critical move when Black answers correctly.
Play the Rapport-Jobava System against the engine
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Create a free account →A balanced opening, not a trap
Stockfish rates this +0.03, a tiny edge for White. That means you are in a dead level position, with neither side better out of the opening. This is exactly the kind of opening where understanding matters more than memorising one sharp line. If you like playing White positions where development and piece activity come first, this is a natural fit. If you want a forcing advantage right away, this opening is less about that and more about good decisions after Black chooses a reply.
Black’s main choices after 3.Bf4
The database shows that Black has several very common replies here, so you should be ready for more than one answer. The most-played continuations are e6, Nc6, Bf5, a6, c6, and c5. Among them, e6 is the engine’s best move, and it is also the most common continuation. That tells you the position is theoretically healthy for Black if they respond sensibly, but also that your opening choice is fully playable and well supported in practice.
What the engine wants you to meet
The engine’s best move here is e6, continuing e6 Nb5 Bb4+ c3. You do not need to memorise a long tree, but you should recognise that Black’s best reaction aims for sensible development and pressure, rather than immediate chaos. In the drill, focus on staying calm and continuing your own development. This opening rewards good piece placement and disciplined play more than flashy tactics.
The practical stat line
Across 6,847,621 games at this exact position, White wins 52.0%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 44.1%. Those numbers show that White scores well in practice, even though the engine evaluation is essentially equal. That is useful information for your study: the position gives you chances to outplay opponents, but you should still treat it as a fair fight. Good results here come from understanding plans, not from assuming the opening is automatically better for you.
A move to know, and a move to avoid
One important note from the database: Nc6 is an inaccuracy in this position and loses about 0.6 pawns; better was e6. That is a great drill point because it tells you which reply to watch for and which one to prefer when you are choosing the best continuation. If Black plays Nc6, you should be alert to the fact that the move is already less accurate. If Black plays e6, assume you are facing the strongest practical defence and keep your play clean.
Results across 6,847,621 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 1,597,464 | 49.5% |
| Nc6 | 1,403,783 | 59.9% |
| Bf5 | 1,342,753 | 50.6% |
| a6 | 1,119,579 | 49.3% |
| c6 | 456,937 | 48.8% |
| c5 | 311,150 | 48.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rapport-Jobava System good for White?
Yes, it is fully playable for White. The engine rates the position +0.03, which is dead level, so you are not starting with a big advantage, but the practical results are strong for White across a very large database.
What is Black’s best reply after 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4?
The engine’s best move here is e6, and it continues with e6 Nb5 Bb4+ c3. In practice, e6 is also the most-played continuation in the database.
Which replies should I be ready for in this opening?
The most-played continuations are e6, Nc6, Bf5, a6, c6, and c5. That means you should be prepared for several different setups rather than one forced line.
Is Nc6 a good defence here?
No, Nc6 is marked as an inaccuracy in this position. The database note says it loses about 0.6 pawns, and better was e6.
How many games feature the Rapport-Jobava System?
Over 7 million Lichess games have reached the Rapport-Jobava System position. White wins 52.0%, Black wins 44.1%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.