ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4

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

4. Ne5−0.91

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ne5 for White. Black is clearly better (−0.91).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.914. Ne5 Nd7 5. d4 Nh6 6. Nc3 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Bd7
  2. −1.144. Ng5 f5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. d3 Nf6 7. dxe4 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 h6
  3. −1.924. Ng1 Nf6 5. d3 Na6 6. Nc3 exd3 7. Bxd3 Nb4 8. Nf3 Nxd3+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ne5 for White, continuing Nd7 5. d4 Nh6 6. Nc3 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Bd7. Black is clearly better (−0.91). The next best moves are 4. Ng5 (−1.14) and 4. Ng1 (−1.92).
Is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.91: black 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: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter 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+).