ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation

1. e4 e6 2. f4

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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: La Bourdonnais Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.172… d5 3. Nc3 d4 4. Nce2 c5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nf3 f5 7. g3
  2. −0.142… c5 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bb5+ Nd7 5. e5 Ne7 6. O-O c4 7. d4
  3. −0.062… Be7 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. Nxf6+

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. Nc3 d4 4. Nce2 c5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nf3 f5 7. g3. The position is roughly equal (−0.17). The next best moves are 2… c5 (−0.14) and 2… Be7 (−0.06).
Is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais 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: La Bourdonnais 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+).