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Zukertort Opening

Arctic Defense, Drunken Knight Variation

A04offbeat

  1. 1.Nf3f6
  2. 2.e4Nh6
  3. 3.d4Nf7
176 games49%47%

An offbeat Arctic Defense line in which Black, with f6 already occupied, reroutes the king's knight via h6 to f7 against White's broad center.

Train it in Theoria

About the Drunken Knight Variation

Black routes the king's knight through h6 to f7 after 2. e4 Nh6 3. d4 Nf7, because the f-pawn already occupies f6. On f7 the knight covers e5 and g5, but it blocks the f-file and stands far from the center, while White has set up pawns on d4 and e4. The engine gives White a clear advantage, though online results are nearly level. The usual continuations are 4. Nc3, 4. Bc4 and 4. e5.

Popular continuations