Walkerling

The Walkerling arises from the King's Head Opening, 1. f3 e5 2. e4, after 2...Nf6 3. Bc4. White develops the light-squared bishop to its most active diagonal, aiming at f7, and leaves the f3-pawn defending e4 against the knight. The setup resembles a Bishop's Opening, but the pawn on f3 takes the natural square from the king's knight and leaves the dark squares around White's king weak, especially the g1–a7 diagonal.

The engine gives Black a clear advantage. The most common reply is 3...Bc5, which develops quickly and puts the bishop on the diagonal aimed at g1, where White's king normally castles. 3...Nc6 is the second choice. The engine prefers 3...d5, which opens the center while White is still undeveloped and offers Black's pieces free play against the loosened kingside. 3...c6 is a slower way to prepare the same central break. Black scores well in online games after all three replies, and 3...d5 gives Black the best results.