ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. Qh5 O-O

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

8. Qxc5−1.89

Black is winning. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. Qh5 O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qxc5 for White. Black is winning (−1.89).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.898. Qxc5 Re8+ 9. Ne2 d3 10. Be3 dxe2 11. Qd4 Bd7 12. Kxe2 Nc6
  2. −1.948. Ne2 d3 9. Qxc5 Re8 10. Be3 dxe2 11. Qd4 Bd7 12. Nd2 Nc6
  3. −2.458. Kf1 Bb6 9. fxg7 Re8 10. Nf3 Qe7 11. h3 Qe2+ 12. Kg1 d3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. exf6 dxc4 7. Qh5 O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qxc5 for White, continuing Re8+ 9. Ne2 d3 10. Be3 dxe2 11. Qd4 Bd7 12. Kxe2 Nc6. Black is winning (−1.89). The next best moves are 8. Ne2 (−1.94) and 8. Kf1 (−2.45).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.89: black is winning. 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: Pratt Variation?
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+).