ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Carlson Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ne5

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

4… Nf6−0.79

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Carlson Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ne5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.79).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.794… Nf6 5. Be2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Be3 a6 8. O-O b5 9. f3
  2. −0.794… Nd7 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. Be2 Bb4 7. Bd2 c5 8. Nb5 O-O 9. Bxb4
  3. −0.634… Ne7 5. Nc3 Nf5 6. d5 Bb4 7. Bb5+ c6 8. dxc6 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Carlson Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ne5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nf6 for Black, continuing 5. Be2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Be3 a6 8. O-O b5 9. f3. Black is slightly better (−0.79). The next best moves are 4… Nd7 (−0.79) and 4… Ne7 (−0.63).
Is the French Defense: Carlson Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.79: 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: Carlson 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+).