The Van't Kruijs Opening is 1.: the e3 pawn opens the diagonal for your f1 bishop and your queen's path to h5, and it backs up d4 for 2.. It shows up in fewer than 2 games out of 100 at your level. You score 49.6% in N = 490,504 Lichess games between players rated 900 to 1700 (September 2026). In 5,281 online games between players rated 2200 or more, the 1. side scores 53 points out of 100.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
5 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
The position after 1. is close to level. Against players rated 2200 or more, the line is 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. At your level the most common reply is different: comes in 48 games out of 100 and in 19. Against , players at your level choose 2. in 1 game in 4; strong players, in 30 out of 100. After 2., your opponent splits almost evenly between (26 in 100) and (24), and brings the bishop out with in 14. After 3., strong players answer in 44 games out of 100; at your level only 8 do, and you usually face or .
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47.6% | 49.9% | 17.5% | no data | |
| 19.3% | 49.2% | 27.1% | no data | |
| 7.8% | 49.8% | 6.0% | no data | |
| 6.5% | 48.7% | 13.3% | no data | |
| 4.3% | 49.8% | no data | no data | |
| 3.3% | 48.0% | 15.9% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 7.8% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5% | 49.3% | 30.4% | no data | |
| 12.0% | 51.2% | 14.0% | no data | |
| 8.6% | 52.2% | 16.5% | no data | |
| 8.1% | 50.4% | 4.3% | no data | |
| 6.5% | 50.7% | no data | no data | |
| 6.5% | 49.1% | 13.0% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 5.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.9% | 52.2% | 2.8% | no data | |
| 24.4% | 51.6% | 49.0% | no data | |
| 17.5% | 52.4% | 14.5% | no data | |
| 14.4% | 51.9% | 5.9% | no data | |
| 4.8% | 51.3% | 11.8% | no data | |
| 4.4% | 52.5% | 13.3% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.3% | 51.7% | 30.5% | no data | |
| 19.0% | 53.3% | 37.3% | no data | |
| 17.6% | 52.5% | 15.3% | no data | |
| 6.6% | 48.6% | no data | no data | |
| 4.9% | 52.2% | no data | no data | |
| 4.6% | 49.6% | 2.0% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 11.9% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.5% | 52.8% | 3.3% | no data | |
| 27.0% | 56.5% | 17.9% | no data | |
| 14.4% | 49.0% | 16.1% | no data | |
| 7.9% | 51.0% | 8.1% | no data | |
| 7.8% | 51.2% | 44.1% | no data | |
| 2.6% | 56.8% | 7.8% | no data |
The strong players' line, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5., builds a pawn chain on c3, d4, e3 and f4 with the bishop in front of it on d3. The pawns hold d4 and cover e5, and the bishop aims down the b1-h7 diagonal at your opponent's kingside.
1. opens the f1-a6 diagonal and the queen's d1-h5 diagonal, and puts a pawn on a square that already covers d4. That is why 2. arrives with support: if your opponent trades a pawn on d4, you recapture with the e3 pawn and keep a pawn in the center. 3. uses the open diagonal: from d3 the bishop eyes e4 and h7.
is how strong players answer. The c5 pawn hits d4, which at that moment only the e3 pawn defends. 4. adds a second pawn defender. attacks d4 a second time, with pawn and knight, and you hold it with two pawns, c3 and e3. The order matters: without 4., that second attack would meet a single defender, because your bishop on d3 blocks the d-file and the queen can't reach d4.
5. completes the setup. Strong players rarely stray from this sequence: after , 4. comes in 94 games out of 100, in 81 and 5. in 84. The f4 pawn joins the d4 pawn in covering e5: the c6 knight can't jump to e5 without being taken by a pawn, and pushing the e7 pawn to e5 doesn't come for free either. The cost is visible too: your g1 knight is still at home, and e4 is covered by your opponent's d5 pawn and f6 knight while you guard it only with the bishop.
At your level this line rarely shows up in full. After 1., 48 opponents out of 100 play , and then 2. attacks that pawn with yours and is the engine's choice, scoring 51 out of 100. The e3 pawn earns its keep again there: if your opponent trades on d4, you recapture with it and keep a pawn in the center. After 2. 3., the strike at d4 comes in 8 games out of 100, against 44 among strong players. You will more often see or ; the second shuts the c8 bishop in behind the b7 and e6 pawns. Neither hits d4 with a pawn, so you can build the c3-to-f4 chain without immediate pressure. Between 900 and 1500 you score 49 out of 100, and between 1500 and 1700 you reach 50.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 7,187 | 27.1% | |
| 1,936 | 30.4% | |
| 3,009 | 49.0% | |
| 2,298 | 37.3% | |
| 843 | 44.1% | |
| 364 | 94.5% | |
| 317 | 81.1% | |
| 244 | 83.6% |
After , 2. is a mistake: it hits e5 and f7 with a lone queen. defends e5, and after 3. the knight hits your queen, which retreats with 4.: two queen moves for nothing. Seen in 7 games out of 100 after , it goes unpunished at your level: it scores 51 out of 100, same as 2..
7 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.3%; scores 51.0%.
After , 2. is an inaccuracy: it takes c3 from your b1 knight. After 3. your opponent leans on d4, and after 4. the pawn kicks your knight to d2 with 5.. Seen in 8 games out of 100 after , it scores 51 out of 100, same as 2.: at your level it rarely gets punished.
8 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.3%; scores 51.0%.
After , 2. is a mistake: the queen takes the square your g1 knight wants. grabs the center, and 3. moves the queen again to hit e5 and g7. steps the pawn away and gains space; after 4. the knight covers d5 and e4. It scores 49 out of 100, against 51 for 2.: a small cost.
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.8%; scores 51.0%.
After , 2. is an inaccuracy: the queen sits on f3, your knight's square. After 3. 4., your opponent covers e5 with and holds the center. It comes up in 5 games out of 100 after and scores 48 out of 100, against 49 for 2.: at your level it barely gets punished.
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 47.8%; scores 49.3%.
After , 2. is a mistake. It hits d5 and f7, but both are defended, and attacks the queen. After 3. your queen is back home and your opponent plays with two pawns in the center and no time lost. It scores 44 out of 100, against 49 for 2.: this one does cost you points.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 44.3%; scores 49.3%.
After , 2. is an inaccuracy. blocks the check and attacks the bishop, which retreats to its home square with 3.. Your opponent gains space with 4. , and 5. is how you hit d5. It scores 42 out of 100, against 49 for 2.: at your level the lost time does show.
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.0%; scores 49.3%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 140,367 | ||
| Not castled | 105,365 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 94,592 |
| Not castled | 42,710 | |
| 31,432 | ||
| Not castled | 28,883 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 1 |
| 1 |
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00
8 amateur games · White's score: 56.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00
7 amateur games · White's score: 28.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00
5 amateur games · White's score: 80.0%
1. 2. 3. · A00
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%