ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Alapin Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3

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

3… dxe4−0.65

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Alapin Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.65).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.653… dxe4 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. Ne2 Nc6 6. c3 Be7 7. g3 Ng4 8. Nxe4
  2. +0.103… Bd7 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
  3. +0.333… Nd7 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Ndf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. Qe2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Alapin Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. Ne2 Nc6 6. c3 Be7 7. g3 Ng4 8. Nxe4. Black is slightly better (−0.65). The next best moves are 3… Bd7 (+0.10) and 3… Nd7 (+0.33).
Is the French Defense: Alapin Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.65: 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: Alapin Gambit?
C00. 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+).