Opening name: 1. Nf3
Opening line: 1. Nf3 Nf6
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page
Winning percentages
White: 40941 (34.09%)
Black: 25557 (21.28%)
Draws: 53586 (44.62%)
1. Nf3
1...Nf6
1...Nf6, keeping the position symmetrical, is the most flexible reply to 1.Nf3. At Grandmaster level this is a very popular move and has been the preferred response of both Anand and Kasparov.
From here, the game can go in a number of directions and there are plenty of transpositional possibilities into 1.d4 and 1.c4 openings.
Most popular responses
2. d4 (Indian Defence) White develops a piece to its ideal square and keeps his options open. This move also is important for controlling the center. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (61131951 games)
2. g3 (King's Indian Attack) A sound, but very unambitious opening move where white almost certainly intends to fianchetto his bishop and enable castling. Black has the choice to continue to mirror white's move once more with g6 or begin a more aggressive attempt to control the center. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (9547428 games)
2. c4 (English Opening) This position is also often reached with the move order 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (6771656 games)
Engine Evaluation
Depth: 58
Score: +0.22
Best Move: c4
PV Line: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O
Historical games for 1. Nf3
| Game | Result | Year |
| Aronian, L. (2826) vs Carlsen, M. (2872) | 1-0 | 2014 |
| Caruana, F. (2827) vs Carlsen, M. (2840) | 1/2-1/2 | 2017 |
| Ding, Liren (2791) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2863) | 1/2-1/2 | 2020 |
| Ding, Liren (2791) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2863) | 1/2-1/2 | 2020 |
| Caruana, F. (2781) vs Carlsen, M. (2872) | 1-0 | 2014 |
| Carlsen, M. (2875) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2774) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Ding Liren (2813) vs Carlsen, M. (2835) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| So, W. (2815) vs Carlsen, M. (2832) | 0-1 | 2017 |
| So, W. (2815) vs Carlsen, M. (2832) | 0-1 | 2017 |
| So, W. (2815) vs Carlsen, M. (2832) | 1/2-1/2 | 2017 |