Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap
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Statistics from Lichess
17,166 games: White 42.5% / Draw 3.9% / Black 53.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 10,06310K | ||
| 3,8673,867 | ||
| 1,0191,019 | ||
| 658658 | ||
| 425425 | ||
| 302302 | ||
| 300300 | ||
| 152152 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
−3.54 Black is clearly better
Best play: 2... Bxa3 3. Nxa3 Nc6 4. b3 d5 5. Bb2 Nge7 6. Nf3 f6 7. e3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ware Opening: Meadow Hay Trap (ECO A00, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Ware Opening, reached after 1. a4 e5 2. Ra3 (2 moves).
In 17,166 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 42.5%, Black 53.6% and 3.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 2…Bxa3, in 59% 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: Meadow Hay Trap
The most played answer, 2…Bxa3, also scores best for Black: 57.1%, with Black winning 55.3% and White 41.0% of 10K games. Of the main answers, 2…Nf6 scores lowest: 52.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 2…Bxa3.
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: Meadow Hay Trap (A00)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ware-opening-meadow-hay-trap