Chessy
Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack with Nc6
After the moves 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 Nc6 3.d4, you have reached the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack with an early Nc6 by Black. Stockfish evaluates the position at +0.08 — dead level, with neither side holding an advantage out of the opening. Black just pushed ...d5, developed the knight to c6, and now it's their turn. Your job is to build a solid centre and develop calmly, knowing that the statistics across nearly 23,000 games show a razor-thin edge for Black in practice (White wins 45.6%, Black wins 50.1%). The drill below will sharpen your response to Black's most common tries.
Play the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack: Nc6 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Try the interactive drill below to face Black's most common replies from this position. Play it free — your results will help you spot patterns and punish inacc
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
In this position the centre is still fluid. White has played 3.d4, which fixes the pawn on d5 and stakes a claim to the centre, while Black's knight on c6 eyes the d4-square. The engine calls this dead level at +0.08 — a tiny plus for White that is essentially zero. That means neither side has made a mistake yet, and the game is wide open. Your goal is to complete development without weakening your pawn structure, then look for a chance to challenge Black's centre with c4 or e4 later. Because the position is perfectly balanced, small inaccuracies matter a lot.
The Engine's Recommendation and a Typical Setup
Stockfish's top move for Black after 3.d4 is Bf5, planning a solid development with ...e6 and ...Bf5 before deciding on kingside or queenside castling. The engine gives the follow-up Bf5 a3 e6 e3 — notice that White's a3 and e3 are quiet, flexible moves. The a3 move prevents Black's bishop from coming to b4 and keeps options open, while e3 prepares to develop the light-squared bishop and reinforces d4. You don't need to memorise a forced line. Instead, absorb the idea: build a sturdy centre, don't rush, and let Black show their hand.
What the Statistics Tell You
The most-played Black move in this position is Nf6 (7,514 games), where White scores 46.3%. Next is Bg4 (5,594 games, White scores 43.9%), then the engine's favourite Bf5 (4,814 games, White scores 44.1%). The best White results come against e6 (1,550 games, White scores 50.3%) and e5 (1,017 games, White scores 49.3%). What stands out? The most common moves — Nf6 and Bg4 — score slightly worse for White, while the less popular e6 and e5 yield better results. That suggests club players often mishandle these quieter replies, so be especially alert when Black plays e6 or e5: you have a good chance to outplay them from a level position.
Two Mistakes to Punish
The FACTS list two inaccuracies Black can make from this position. If Black plays e5, it loses about 0.7 pawns compared to the best move (Bf5). If Black plays f6, it loses about 0.5 pawns. Both moves weaken Black's position — e5 opens lines prematurely and f6 creates a hole on e6. When you see either move, increase your activity. Develop with gain of tempo, target the weakened squares, and trust that you have a small but real edge. The drill below will let you practise punishing these inaccuracies in a realistic setting.
Results across 22,940 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 7,514 | 46.3% |
| Bg4 | 5,594 | 43.9% |
| Bf5 | 4,814 | 44.1% |
| e6 | 1,550 | 50.3% |
| e5 | 1,017 | 49.3% |
| f6 | 982 | 48.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack with Nc6 good for White?
The position after 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 Nc6 3.d4 is dead level, evaluated at +0.08 by Stockfish. White wins 45.6% of games, Black wins 50.1%, and 4.3% end in draws. It is a perfectly solid opening choice — you are not worse out of the gate, and small mistakes by your opponent can tip the balance in your favour.
What is the best move for Black after 3.d4?
The engine's top recommendation is Bf5, followed by a3 and e6 from White, then e3. But in practice Black most often plays Nf6 (7,514 games) or Bg4 (5,594 games). The position is equal, so no move refutes the opening — Black has many playable options.
What are the biggest mistakes Black can make here?
The two known inaccuracies are e5 (losing about 0.7 pawns) and f6 (losing about 0.5 pawns). Both moves weaken Black's position. If your opponent plays either, focus on rapid development and exploiting the weakened squares.
Why does White score better against e6 and e5 than against Nf6?
Against Nf6 (the most common reply), White scores 46.3% — slightly below average. Against the quieter e6, White scores 50.3%, and against e5 White scores 49.3%. This suggests club players are less familiar with how to handle e6 and e5, while Nf6 is well-known and often leads to sharper play where Black is comfortable.
How many games feature the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack: Nc6?
Over 22K Lichess games have reached the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack: Nc6 position. White wins 45.6%, Black wins 50.1%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.