Chess opening · ECO A00
Van Geet Opening
1.Nc3 is the Van Geet Opening. White brings out a knight before touching a pawn, and from c3 it already eyes the two central light squares, d5 and e4. The move keeps White's plans open: a later e4 can steer the game into a Vienna, while slower setups keep the pawns back and let Black show their hand first.
- Rank by weighted share
- #68 of 159
Key moves
1. Nc3
- 1. Nc3The knight covers d5 and e4 and supports a later e2-e4 push. It also stands in front of the c-pawn, so White gives up the c2-c4 break for now. Until that knight moves again, the c-pawn is stuck on c2.
Turning 1.Nc3 into a Vienna
If Black answers 1...e5, White can play 2.e4 and the game is a Vienna Game by a different move order. After 2...Nf6 3.f4, White strikes at e5 with the f-pawn, and the position is a Vienna Gambit.
Players who like the Vienna can therefore use 1.Nc3 to dodge other replies to 1.e4, such as the Sicilian or the French, as long as Black chooses ...e5.
When ...d4 chases the knight
Against 1...d5, the c3 knight is a target. If White plays 2.e4, Black can push 2...d4 and the knight has to move again. The usual answer is 3.Nce2, rerouting toward g3, where it watches f5 and h5 and backs up the e4 pawn.
That knight trip costs time. In return the d4 pawn has crossed into White's half of the board, and White can later challenge it with c3.
The knight goes around to g3
1... d5 2. e4 d4 3. Nce2 e5 4. Ng3
Black grabs space with pawns on d4 and e5, and White's knight has reached g3 by way of c3 and e2. From there it guards e4 and looks at f5. Bc4 and Nf3, which hits e5, are natural next steps before castling short.
Top replies by rating
e5 leads below 1800, the reply that lets White reach a Vienna with e4. From 1800 up, d5 takes over the top spot and Nf6 climbs to second.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e5 42% | d5 18% | e6 11% |
| 1200–1399 | e5 41% | d5 22% | e6 11% |
| 1400–1599 | e5 38% | d5 24% | Nf6 9% |
| 1600–1799 | e5 29% | d5 28% | Nf6 13% |
| 1800–1999 | d5 30% | Nf6 20% | e5 17% |
| 2000 and up | d5 38% | Nf6 21% | c5 12% |
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