Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation 4…e6 5. b3
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Statistics from Lichess
42,421 games: White 50.7% / Draw 5.4% / Black 44.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 24,45424K | ||
| 8,9578,957 | ||
| 2,1272,127 | ||
| 1,6521,652 | ||
| 1,6421,642 | ||
| 1,3091,309 | ||
| 1,0401,040 | ||
| 353353 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.06 The position is about equal
Best play: 5... cxd4 6. exd4 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. Bb2 b6 10. a3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation (ECO D05, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game: Krause Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 e6 5. b3 (5 moves).
In 42,421 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.7%, Black 44.0% and 5.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nc6, in 58% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 5. b3
5…cxd4 scores best for Black: 47.9%, with Black winning 45.1% and White 49.4% of 8,957 games. The most played, 5…Nc6, scores 46.4% in 24K games, and 5…Be7 scores lowest: 46.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…cxd4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Queen's Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation (D05)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-pawn-game-zukertort-variation-2