A00

Van Geet Opening: Venezolana Variation

Chess diagram: Van Geet Opening: Venezolana Variation after 3. g3

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

9,432 games: White 46.5% / Draw 5.8% / Black 47.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,4722,472
1,1361,136
1,1211,121
1,0561,056
875875
827827
688688
555555

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.56 Black is slightly better

Best play: 3... d4 4. Nb1 c5 5. e4 e5 6. Nd2 Nc6 7. Bh3 Bxh3 8. Nxh3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Van Geet Opening: Venezolana Variation (ECO A00, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Van Geet Opening, reached after 1. Nc3 d5 2. d3 Nf6 3. g3 (3 moves).

In 9,432 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.5%, Black 47.6% and 5.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 3…e5, in 26% of those games.

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How to play against the Van Geet Opening: Venezolana Variation

3…d4 scores best for Black: 55.0%, with Black winning 51.7% and White 41.7% of 1,121 games. The most played, 3…e5, scores 49.4% in 2,472 games, and 3…e6 scores lowest: 48.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 3…d4.

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. “Van Geet Opening: Venezolana Variation (A00)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/van-geet-opening-venezolana-variation