ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Bird Invitation

1. e4 e6 2. Bb5

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

2… a6−0.26

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Bird Invitation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. Bb5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… a6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.262… a6 3. Be2 d5 4. d3 dxe4 5. dxe4 Qxd1+ 6. Bxd1 Nf6 7. f3
  2. −0.162… c6 3. Be2 d5 4. d3 Bd6 5. Nf3 Bc7 6. Nc3 d4 7. Nb1
  3. 0.002… c5 3. Ba4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. c3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Bird Invitation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. Bb5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… a6 for Black, continuing 3. Be2 d5 4. d3 dxe4 5. dxe4 Qxd1+ 6. Bxd1 Nf6 7. f3. The position is roughly equal (−0.26). The next best moves are 2… c6 (−0.16) and 2… c5 (0.00).
Is the French Defense: Bird Invitation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.26: the position is roughly equal. 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: Bird Invitation?
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+).