ECO C01 · French Defense

French Defense: Exchange Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… exd5+0.17

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

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Exchange Variation (C01), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… exd5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.173… exd5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bd3
  2. +0.583… Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Be2 Qd8 6. O-O c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Be3
  3. +0.893… Nf6 4. dxe6 Bxe6 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. O-O Qc7 8. Bxc6+

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… exd5 for Black, continuing 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bd3. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 3… Qxd5 (+0.58) and 3… Nf6 (+0.89).
Is the French Defense: Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.17: 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: Exchange Variation?
C01. 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+).