ECO C24 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Paulsen Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6

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

4. Nf3+0.02

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

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Paulsen Defense (C24), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.02).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.024. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. O-O h6 8. Nc3 dxe4
  2. −0.054. Bb3 a5 5. a4 Bc5 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Na3 Na6
  3. −0.244. Qe2 Bc5 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bb3 d5 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. Nc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Paulsen Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing d5 5. Bb3 a5 6. a4 Bd6 7. O-O h6 8. Nc3 dxe4. The position is roughly equal (+0.02). The next best moves are 4. Bb3 (−0.05) and 4. Qe2 (−0.24).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Paulsen Defense 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: Paulsen Defense?
C24. 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+).