Chessy
Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense as Black
After 1.Nf3 h6, White is already the one asking the questions, and the position is a little more pleasant for White. That does not mean you should panic. It means you need a clear, practical answer and a good feel for the first few moves that usually follow. In the drill below, you will meet the main tries from White and learn what the engine prefers, so you can handle this opening with a plan instead of guesswork.
Play the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position really says
This line starts with 1.Nf3 h6, and the immediate story is simple: Black has played a waiting move, while White keeps the initiative. Stockfish rates this +0.62, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so your goal is not to win the opening on the spot, but to stay solid, answer White’s central play, and reach a playable middlegame without drifting into trouble. The opening is not a knockout, but it does ask you to be accurate early.
The move the engine wants
The engine’s best move here is e4, and the listed continuation is e4 c5 c3 Nc6. That tells you what White is most likely to aim for: central space and quick development. As Black, you should expect White to build naturally and try to make your extra h-pawn move look like lost time. In the drill, focus on meeting the centre calmly and not wasting more moves than necessary. If White gets an easy centre, your position can become passive very quickly.
What the database shows
This exact position has been played a lot: 195,185 games in the Lichess database. White scores well overall, which matches the engine’s verdict. The most common continuations are d4 with 57,654 games, e4 with 40,894 games, g3 with 35,112 games, Nc3 with 16,394 games, c4 with 15,223 games, and e3 with 7,455 games. You do not need to memorise all of them, but you should notice the pattern: White usually takes the centre or develops smoothly, so Black’s opening task is to keep the position under control.
The main move to watch for
Among the listed continuations, Nc3 is a mistake and loses about 0.7 pawns; the better move was e4. That is useful for your training because it shows White can drift if they do not challenge the centre properly. If your opponent chooses Nc3, do not overreact or look for tricks that are not there. Stay principled, keep developing, and let the opening work for you through good piece placement rather than tactics that may never appear.
Results across 195,185 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 57,654 | 53.2% |
| e4 | 40,894 | 52.6% |
| g3 | 35,112 | 52.5% |
| Nc3 | 16,394 | 49.8% |
| c4 | 15,223 | 54.5% |
| e3 | 7,455 | 51.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the position is not equal. Stockfish rates it +0.62, a small edge for White, so you should expect to be slightly worse if White handles the opening well. The practical aim is to stay solid and reach a workable middlegame.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most-played continuations are d4, e4, g3, Nc3, c4, and e3. The database shows that White often chooses a central or natural developing move, so you should be ready for straightforward play rather than an early tactical race. White’s most common choice is d4.
What is the engine’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move here is e4. The continuation given is e4 c5 c3 Nc6, which shows the kind of central play White can build with if Black does not respond actively. Use that as a cue to respect White’s space and development.
Is Nc3 a good reply for White?
No. Nc3 is marked as an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; the better move was e4. That means if your opponent plays Nc3, they have already let the position slip a little, and you should keep your position sound and simple.
How many games feature the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense?
Over 195K Lichess games have reached the Zukertort Opening: Basman Defense position. White wins 52.4%, Black wins 43.5%, with 4.2% draws — based on real rated games.