ECO C20 · Barnes Opening

Barnes Opening: Walkerling

1. f3 e5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Bc4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… d5−1.00

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Barnes Opening: Walkerling (C20), reached after 1. f3 e5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.00).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.003… d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Bxd5 Qxd5 7. Be3 Qd7 8. Ne2
  2. −0.913… Bc5 4. Nc3 c6 5. a3 d5 6. Ba2 a5 7. d3 Ba7 8. Bg5
  3. −0.763… c6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 d5 6. exd5 cxd5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Ne2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Barnes Opening: Walkerling?
After 1. f3 e5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Bxd5 Qxd5 7. Be3 Qd7 8. Ne2. Black is clearly better (−1.00). The next best moves are 3… Bc5 (−0.91) and 3… c6 (−0.76).
Is the Barnes Opening: Walkerling a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.00: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Barnes Opening: Walkerling?
C20. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).