ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Normal Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4

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

2… d5+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Normal Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.372… d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
  2. +0.562… a6 3. Bd3 d5 4. e5 Bd7 5. c3 c5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. cxd4
  3. +0.662… h6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Bd7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Normal Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 2… a6 (+0.56) and 2… h6 (+0.66).
Is the French Defense: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: white 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: Normal 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+).