ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. b4

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

2… Bxb4−0.82

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Bxb4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.82).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.822… Bxb4 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Qg4 Bf8 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nc3
  2. −0.682… d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. a3 Nf6 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Ne2
  3. −0.362… Qh4 3. Bd3 Bxb4 4. Nf3 Qd8 5. O-O Be7 6. Bb2 Nf6 7. e5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Bxb4 for Black, continuing 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Qg4 Bf8 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nc3. Black is clearly better (−0.82). The next best moves are 2… d5 (−0.68) and 2… Qh4 (−0.36).
Is the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.82: black is clearly 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: Banzai-Leong 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+).