ECO C02 · French Defense

French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7

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

4. Nf3+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap (C02), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.354. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5
  2. +0.354. c3 c5 5. Be2 Qb6 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5 8. Bxb5+ Qxb5
  3. +0.304. Be2 Ne7 5. Nf3 c5 6. c3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nbc6 8. O-O Nf5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 4. c3 (+0.35) and 4. Be2 (+0.30).
Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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, Extended Bishop Swap?
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+).