ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Morphy Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3

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

3… dxe4−0.70

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Morphy Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.703… dxe4 4. Be3 Nf6 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Ng5 Nxd4 7. Ndxe4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4
  2. −0.183… c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Nf6 7. O-O cxd4 8. c3
  3. −0.073… Be7 4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Bxf6 7. c3 Nc6 8. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Morphy Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Be3 Nf6 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Ng5 Nxd4 7. Ndxe4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4. Black is slightly better (−0.70). The next best moves are 3… c5 (−0.18) and 3… Be7 (−0.07).
Is the French Defense: Morphy Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.70: black is slightly 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: Morphy 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+).