ECO C02 · French Defense

French Defense: Advance Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

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

3… c5+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Advance Variation (C02), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.313… c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. h4
  2. +0.423… Bd7 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4
  3. +0.423… Ne7 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nbc6 6. Bd3 Bd7 7. a3 cxd4 8. cxd4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Advance Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black, continuing 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. h4. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 3… Bd7 (+0.42) and 3… Ne7 (+0.42).
Is the French Defense: Advance Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: white is slightly 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 French Defense: Advance Variation?
C02. 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+).