ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4

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

2… Nf6+0.02

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Nf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.02).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.022… Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. exd5
  2. +0.222… Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. a4
  3. +0.242… Bc5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Re1

All Bishop's Opening variations (39)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Nf6 for Black, continuing 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. exd5. The position is roughly equal (+0.02). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (+0.22) and 2… Bc5 (+0.24).
Is the Bishop's Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.02: the position is roughly equal. 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 Bishop's Opening?
C23. 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+).