ECO C02 · French Defense

French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O

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

8… Nxd4−0.35

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line (C02), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Nxd4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.358… Nxd4 9. Nbd2 Bc5 10. b4 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Qxb4 12. Rb1 Qa4 13. Nb3
  2. +0.108… Rc8 9. Be2 Nge7 10. Nc3 Nf5 11. Na4 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qd8 13. Bg5
  3. +0.308… a6 9. Kh1 Nxd4 10. Be3 Bc5 11. b4 Qxb4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Qg4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Nxd4 for Black, continuing 9. Nbd2 Bc5 10. b4 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Qxb4 12. Rb1 Qa4 13. Nb3. Black is slightly better (−0.35). The next best moves are 8… Rc8 (+0.10) and 8… a6 (+0.30).
Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.35: black 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, Milner-Barry Gambit, Main Line?
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+).