The Zukertort Opening in 3D

01

Watch the idea unfold.

Play the guided film, or select a scene to pause and study its position.

Setting up the board…

Opening

The Zukertort Opening in 3D

1.Nf3. A flexible first move that develops a knight and stops ...e5 for now. It often transposes to the Réti, the English or a Queen's Pawn opening.

White moveBlack moveThreatSupport / safe squarePlan

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Follow the idea

13 scenes · Select any scene to study it at your pace.

02

Put the idea on the board.

Rebuild the sequence yourself. The board responds to each move, and hints are available.

Preparing your chess set…

Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play

Your turn · white to play

Play the opening sequence

Play White's moves from the demonstration. Black replies automatically. Use a hint when you need a reminder.

0 of 6 moves practisedYour move

Select a piece, then its destination. Switch to 2D for a clear overhead view or rotate the 3D board to explore the position.

Position 1 of 1Understand why →

03

What to carry into your next game.

Zukertort Opening: Double Fianchetto Attack, move by move: Nf3 Nf6 g3 g6 b3 Bg7 Bb2 O-O …

The white pieces

Your plan as White

Wait for Black to commit, then choose the setup that fits: c4 against ...d5, e4 against ...d6 or ...c5, and a kingside fianchetto when you want a quieter game.

The black pieces

Your plan as Black

Take your share of the centre with ...d5 or ...Nf6 and keep your own options open. Choose replies that lead to openings you already play, since White can transpose.

Look a little deeper · 01

1.Nf3 controls e5 and d4 without committing a pawn. White can follow with c4 (English or Réti), d4 (Queen's Pawn systems) or g3, Bg2 and d3 (the King's Indian Attack), depending on Black's reply.

Look a little deeper · 02

Several of Black's replies are named as invitations: 1...c5 (the Sicilian Invitation), 1...c6 (the Slav Invitation), 1...e6 (the Queen's Gambit Invitation) and 1...d6 (the Pirc Invitation) each ask White to play e4 or d4 and enter a familiar opening.

Look a little deeper · 03

In the Reversed Grünfeld (1...d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4), White plays a Grünfeld setup with an extra tempo and attacks Black's centre with c4 and the bishop on g2.

Look a little deeper · 04

Against 1...f5, the Dutch Variation, White can play sharply with 2.e4, the Lisitsyn Gambit, which aims at Black's weakened kingside.

Zukertort Opening: Double Fianchetto Attack, move by move: Nf3 Nf6 g3 g6 b3 Bg7 Bb2 O-O …

Explore the opening Next: The Italian Game

Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.