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. 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, 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+).