Ware Opening: Crab Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
70,050 games: White 43.4% / Draw 3.9% / Black 52.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 40,37340K | ||
| 6,9416,941 | ||
| 5,8745,874 | ||
| 5,4215,421 | ||
| 2,7082,708 | ||
| 2,3522,352 | ||
| 1,5111,511 | ||
| 1,0421,042 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026
Engine evaluation
−1.07 Black is better
Best play: 2... d5 3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 Nf6 5. dxe5 Nxe5 6. Bg5 Neg4 7. e3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ware Opening: Crab Variation (ECO A00, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Ware Opening, reached after 1. a4 e5 2. h4 (2 moves).
In 70,050 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.4%, Black 52.6% and 3.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 2…d5, 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 play against the Ware Opening: Crab Variation
2…Bc5 scores best for Black: 57.8%, with Black winning 56.1% and White 40.4% of 6,941 games. The most played, 2…d5, scores 54.9% in 40K games, and 2…Nc6 scores lowest: 53.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 2…d5.
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. “Ware Opening: Crab Variation (A00)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ware-opening-crab-variation