ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense

1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5

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

3. d5+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.603. d5 Nf6 4. Nc3 d6 5. h3 a6 6. a4 exd5 7. exd5 Nbd7
  2. +0.413. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5
  3. +0.383. Ne2 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 d6 7. Nxc6 bxc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d5 for White, continuing Nf6 4. Nc3 d6 5. h3 a6 6. a4 exd5 7. exd5 Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.41) and 3. Ne2 (+0.38).
Is the French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: white 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: Franco-Sicilian Defense?
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+).