ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Mediterranean Defense

1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6

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

3. e5+0.96

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Mediterranean Defense (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.96).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.963. e5 Nd5 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 d6 6. exd6 cxd6 7. Bd3 Be7
  2. +0.703. Bd3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Ne2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nd2 d6
  3. +0.553. Nd2 d5 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Mediterranean Defense?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e5 for White, continuing Nd5 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 d6 6. exd6 cxd6 7. Bd3 Be7. White is clearly better (+0.96). The next best moves are 3. Bd3 (+0.70) and 3. Nd2 (+0.55).
Is the French Defense: Mediterranean Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.96: 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: Mediterranean Defense?
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+).