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Van 't Kruijs Opening
The Van 't Kruijs Opening begins after the move 1. e3. It is a modest but sound first move, and suits players who want to set up their pieces calmly and let Black commit in the centre first.
- For white
- Quiet
- Positional
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. e3
- Colour:
- Played by White
- Style:
- Quiet, positional
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate
- Named after:
- The Dutch player Maarten van 't Kruijs (1813–1885), who won the sixth Dutch championship in 1878.
- Trivia:
- Maarten van 't Kruijs was a peat merchant and an organist as well as a chess player.
- Variations:
- 1... Nf6. Quiet System. 1... d5. 1... e5. Reversed French.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapidClassical
Best suited for rating
1200-1900
Why play the Van 't Kruijs Opening?
The Van 't Kruijs Opening takes one small step and leaves every big decision for later.
With 1. e3, White opens lines for the f1-bishop and the queen and prepares a later d4, but puts no pawn in the centre yet.
The idea is to play a setup rather than a line. White can aim for the same few moves against most replies, such as Nf3, b3, Bb2 and castling, and leave the opponent to find a plan alone.
Black decides how much of the centre to take: ...e5 and ...d5 grab it at once, while ...Nf6 keeps options open. Against ...e5, White often strikes back with d4 or c4 instead.
The pawn step has its price. Natural replies such as ...d5 and ...Nf6 equalise at once, without much theory, and the e3-pawn stands in front of the c1-bishop, which is why it often heads for b2.
In return, White gets a repertoire built on one setup rather than memorised lines, against opponents who have rarely prepared for it.
Try the Van 't Kruijs Opening yourself!
Why the Van 't Kruijs Opening is good with the:
Few forced lines - White sets up the same few pieces against most replies, so there is little theory to memorise.
Quick castling - The e-pawn step opens the way for the f1-bishop, so White can castle kingside within a few moves.
Little preparation - Few opponents have studied 1. e3, so the game often leaves known theory early.
Suited for - Patient players who prefer a familiar setup to an early theoretical battle.
Why the Van 't Kruijs Opening is good with the white pieces
Few forced lines - White sets up the same few pieces against most replies, so there is little theory to memorise.
Quick castling - The e-pawn step opens the way for the f1-bishop, so White can castle kingside within a few moves.
Little preparation - Few opponents have studied 1. e3, so the game often leaves known theory early.
Suited for - Patient players who prefer a familiar setup to an early theoretical battle.
Why the Van 't Kruijs Opening is good with the black pieces
Open invitation - 1. e3 leaves e4, d5 and e5 uncontested, so Black can occupy the centre with ...e5 or ...d5 at once.
Easy equality - Natural replies such as ...d5, ...e5 and ...Nf6 already give Black an equal game.
Good odds - At every level, Black wins at least as often as White after 1. e3.
Suited for - Confident players who are happy to take the centre when it is offered.
Strategy
Typical setups, plans, and key squares.
Against ...e5
The bishop waits for d4, which would pin the c3-knight to the king, so White answers with Nge2 or Qc2.
Against ...Nf6
Black needs the ...e5 break to avoid a lasting space disadvantage, and White's bishop and knight aim at the square.
Against ...d5
Against ...c5, White exchanges on d5 and holds d4 with a pawn, keeping the dark squares but briefly blocking the b2-bishop.
Reversed French
After ...d5 and ...Nf6 the game often becomes a French Exchange, and the mirrored pawns leave White little to aim at.
Traps and tactics
One trap every Van 't Kruijs player should know.
Themes
The dark squares
d4 and e5 are the squares both sides fight over. Whoever holds them decides where the central breaks can land.
The c1-bishop
The e3-pawn shuts in White's dark-squared bishop, so it either goes to b2 or waits for the e-pawn to leave. Until then it does little.
The ...e5 break
Black's ...e5 decides how much room Black gets. In time, it gives a comfortable game, but if it comes too late, White's grip on the centre leaves Black cramped.
A tempo in hand
Against ...e5, White often reaches a Black opening with the colours reversed and an extra move. The tempo is modest, so these positions usually stay level.
History
The history of the Van 't Kruijs Opening, from its origins to modern play.
1860s-1880s
Early outings
1. e3 turns up in master games against Louis Paulsen, Henry Bird and Szymon Winawer, long before the move has a name.
1878
Dutch courage
Maarten van 't Kruijs wins the sixth Dutch championship, and the first move 1. e3 later takes his name.
1928
Hypermodern guest
Aron Nimzowitsch opens with 1. e3 against Siegbert Tarrasch at Bad Kissingen and wins.
1987
Chameleon
Joel Benjamin and Eric Schiller call 1. e3 a "chameleon" for the way it can turn into many other openings.
2016-2022
World champion's whim
Magnus Carlsen plays 1. e3 in rapid and blitz events, including the World Rapid Championship and online games against Giri and Ding Liren.
2020s
Modest but sound
Engines rate 1. e3 as sound but modest, since natural replies equalise at once, and it remains a common first move online.
Model Games
Three games that show the Van 't Kruijs at work.
FAQ
The Van 't Kruijs Opening begins after the move 1. e3. White opens lines for the f1-bishop and the queen, prepares d4, and lets Black commit in the centre first.
No. 1. e3 puts no pawn in the centre, against the opening principles beginners are still learning, and handling the closed positions that follow takes experience.
Yes, but modest. Engines rate 1. e3 as fully playable, and natural replies such as ...d5 and ...Nf6 equalise at once.
White plays a setup rather than a line, with Nf3, b3, Bb2 and castling against most replies. The fight then turns on the dark central squares d4 and e5.
It arises after 1. e3 e5 2. d4. White reaches a French Defence with the colours reversed and an extra move, and after 2... exd4 3. exd4 the e-file opens.
Both rely on a pawn on e3 and quiet development. The Colle puts a pawn on d4 at once and aims for e3-e4, while the Van 't Kruijs waits to see Black's reply first.
There is no single best line. 1... d5 and 1... e5 take the centre at once, while 1... Nf6 keeps options open, and all three give Black an equal game.
Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richárd Rapport, Levon Aronian, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Baadur Jobava, and Pavel Blatny have all used it.
Choose the London if you want a tested system with d4 and Bf4 from the first moves. Choose the Van 't Kruijs if you know closed systems well and want to see Black's reply before committing a central pawn.