ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Hoffmann Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4

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

5. Bxf4+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Hoffmann Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bxf4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.485. Bxf4 Be7 6. Nc3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nd7 8. Ng3 Nb6 9. O-O-O Nf6
  2. +0.345. Nc3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Be6 7. Bd2 Qxd4 8. O-O-O Nd7 9. Ng5 Qd5
  3. +0.285. exd5+ Be7 6. Bxf4 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. Qc4 Bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Hoffmann Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bxf4 for White, continuing Be7 6. Nc3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nd7 8. Ng3 Nb6 9. O-O-O Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 5. Nc3 (+0.34) and 5. exd5+ (+0.28).
Is the French Defense: Hoffmann Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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: Hoffmann 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+).