The Shy Attack is a variation of the Formation, catalogued as ECO A00. The line runs 1. a3 e5 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nd2 Bd6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3, reaching the position shown below after 13 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move after seven moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
On the Formation generally: ECO A00. A chess opening with 2 known variations.
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The Shy Attack goes 1. a3 e5 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nd2 Bd6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3. It is a variation of the Formation and is catalogued as ECO A00.
The Shy Attack is ECO A00. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Formation.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. a3 e5 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. Nd2 Bd6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3 at -0.68 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for Black. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.