Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
5,210 games: White 50.9% / Draw 4.1% / Black 44.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,6132,613 | ||
| 964964 | ||
| 687687 | ||
| 455455 | ||
| 134134 | ||
| 8888 | ||
| 6161 | ||
| 4242 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 24, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.54 White is clearly better
Even so, Black scores 47.0% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.
Best play: 3. Nc3 f6 4. d4 Nf7 5. e5 d5 6. exd6 Nxd6 7. a3 c6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation (ECO A04, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Zukertort Opening, reached after 1. Nf3 Na6 2. e4 Nh6 (2 moves).
In 5,210 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.9%, Black 44.9% and 4.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 3. d4, in 50% 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 Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation
3. Nc3 scores best for White: 55.9%, with White winning 52.3% and Black 40.4% of 455 games. The most played, 3. d4, scores 53.8% in 2,613 games, and 3. Bxa6 scores lowest: 49.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 3. Nc3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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. “Zukertort Opening: Drunken Cavalry Variation (A04)”. Lichess data as of 24 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/zukertort-opening-drunken-cavalry-variation