ECO C10 · French Defense

French Defense: Marshall Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c5

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

4. exd5+1.00

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Marshall Gambit (C10), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. exd5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.00).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.004. exd5 exd5 5. dxc5 d4 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Qe2+ Be6 8. Ne4 Nf6
  2. +0.994. Bb5+ Bd7 5. exd5 Bxb5 6. Nxb5 a6 7. Nc3 exd5 8. dxc5 Bxc5
  3. +0.534. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 a6 7. Be3 Nd7 8. Qf3 Qa5+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Marshall Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. exd5 for White, continuing exd5 5. dxc5 d4 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Qe2+ Be6 8. Ne4 Nf6. White is clearly better (+1.00). The next best moves are 4. Bb5+ (+0.99) and 4. Nf3 (+0.53).
Is the French Defense: Marshall Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.00: 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: Marshall Gambit?
C10. 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+).