Van 't Kruijs Opening
1.e3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 · A00
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
A flexible move with a real commitment
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The idea
White plays e3 first and keeps every structure available, usually transposing into a Queen's Gambit or a Colle-type setup.
Main line: 1.e3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.Bb2 Bd6
What White wants
- Transpose into a familiar Queen's Gambit or Colle setup
- Develop the bishop to d3 and play b3 and Bb2
- Avoid all prepared theory in the main lines
What Black wants
- Take the centre with ...d5 and ...e5 if allowed
- Develop actively and challenge the slow white setup
- Punish the passive first move by claiming space
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
A flexible move with a real commitment
e3 opens the f1 bishop's diagonal and supports d4, but restricts the c1 bishop and gives Black time to claim the centre. White can transpose into a Colle or Queen's Gambit, while recognising that reaching e4 later costs an additional pawn move.
Common mistake
Assuming that any later e4 wastes a tempo. In a Colle-type structure the prepared e4 break is the main plan and can activate the c1 bishop; the mistake is making it without enough support, not advancing the pawn a second time in itself.
Mistake example: cxd4.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bqk2r/pp3ppp/2nbpn2/2pp4/3P4/1P1BPN2/PBP2PPP/RN1QK2R w KQkq - 3 7
Analyze this position