ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Knight Variation

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3

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

2… d5+0.17

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

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Knight Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.172… d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Bd3
  2. +0.442… c5 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. c4
  3. +0.532… a6 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Bd7 5. c3 Bb5 6. Bxb5+ axb5 7. O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Knight Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Bd6 5. c4 Nf6 6. c5 Be7 7. Bd3. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 2… c5 (+0.44) and 2… a6 (+0.53).
Is the French Defense: Knight 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: Knight Variation?
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+).