ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 f5

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

3. exf5+1.31

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. exf5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.313. exf5 exf5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bd3 d6 6. O-O Bf6 7. Re1+ Ne7
  2. +0.673. e5 c5 4. c3 b6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Ne7
  3. +0.593. d3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 Bb4+ 7. c3 Be7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. exf5 for White, continuing exf5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bd3 d6 6. O-O Bf6 7. Re1+ Ne7. White is clearly better (+1.31). The next best moves are 3. e5 (+0.67) and 3. d3 (+0.59).
Is the French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.31: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva 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+).