ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4 3. e5

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

3… Nc6−1.21

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4 3. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nc6 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.21).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.213… Nc6 4. f4 Ba5 5. Na3 Nge7 6. Nc4 d5 7. Nxa5 Nxa5 8. Ba3
  2. −1.053… b6 4. a3 Bf8 5. d4 Bb7 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bd3 Nd7 8. Nbd2
  3. −1.023… Nh6 4. Nf3 Nf5 5. Bd3 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bxf5 exf5 8. d4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4 3. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nc6 for Black, continuing 4. f4 Ba5 5. Na3 Nge7 6. Nc4 d5 7. Nxa5 Nxa5 8. Ba3. Black is clearly better (−1.21). The next best moves are 3… b6 (−1.05) and 3… Nh6 (−1.02).
Is the French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.21: 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, Pinova 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+).