Rapport-Jobava System, with e6
The Rapport-Jobava System with e6 is 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4, where Black plays a quiet ...e6 and White develops the knight and bishop early. White plans Nb5 against c7 and sometimes long castling, while Black wants ...Nf6, ...Bd6 or ...Bb4 and a quick ...c5 break.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4
- ECO
- D01
- Engine
- +0.08 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 5,442 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Jump with Nb5 to hit c7, forcing Black to react before ...c5 is ready.
- Play Qd3 and long castling, then push pawns on the kingside against a castled black king.
- Use e3 and a3 to keep the bishop and knights safe from ...Bb4 pins.
- Trade the dark-squared bishops on d6 if Black offers, and use Qg3 to hit g7.
Black
- Play ...Nf6 and answer Nb5 with ...Bb4+, then retreat the bishop to a5 or d6.
- Offer a trade with ...Bd6 to remove White's active f4 bishop from the b8 to h2 diagonal.
- Use ...Bb4 to pin the c3 knight and slow White's e4 push in the center.
- Prepare ...c5 to strike at d4 once the kingside is developed and the king is castled.
Plans and pawn structure
Black's ...e6 makes the position solid but locks the c8 bishop. White develops fast with Bf4, Nb5 or Qd3, and often castles long to attack. Black aims to trade the f4 bishop with ...Bd6 and to play ...c5 to challenge d4. If White pushes e4, the center opens and piece activity decides. Black's light-squared bishop can come out via b7 or d7 later.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.08: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.08 3...Nf6 4.Nb5 Bb4+ 5.c3 Ba5 6.e3
- +0.10 3...Bd6 4.Bxd6 Qxd6 5.Qd3 Nf6 6.Qg3
- +0.10 3...Bb4 4.Qd3 Nf6 5.a3 Bd6 6.Bxd6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
5,442 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, develop with ...Nf6 and ...Bd6 or ...Bb4. Watch the Nb5 jump against c7 and be ready with ...Bb4+ or ...Na6. Avoid passivity: once your king is safe, play ...c5 and fight for the center. Long castling by White means a race, so open lines quickly.
Questions
What are the moves of the Rapport-Jobava System, with e6?
The Rapport-Jobava System, with e6 starts 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Bf4. Its ECO code is D01.
Is the Rapport-Jobava System, with e6 good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.08 at depth 20, which is level. In 5,442 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.1%. A fresh weapon for White players who like early activity, while Black needs to handle Nb5 calmly and get ...c5 in.
What is the main idea of the Rapport-Jobava System, with e6?
White develops with Nc3 and Bf4 and targets c7 with Nb5. Black stays solid with ...e6, trades bishops with ...Bd6, and prepares ...c5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nf6, with Bd6 and Bb4 close behind. 3...Nf6 develops and prepares to meet Nb5 with ...Bb4+ and a retreat on the a5 to e1 diagonal.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.