ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3

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

4… dxe4−0.85

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… dxe4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.85).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.854… dxe4 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Nc3 c6 7. d3 exd3+ 8. Be3 d2+ 9. Kd1
  2. −0.524… Qe7 5. Qxd5 Nf6 6. Qb5+ c6 7. Qe2 Nxe4 8. Nc3 Bf5 9. Qe3
  3. −0.354… Bd6 5. Qxd5 Nf6 6. Qc4 O-O 7. Nc3 c5 8. d3 Nc6 9. Nf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… dxe4 for Black, continuing 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Nc3 c6 7. d3 exd3+ 8. Be3 d2+ 9. Kd1. Black is clearly better (−0.85). The next best moves are 4… Qe7 (−0.52) and 4… Bd6 (−0.35).
Is the French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.85: 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: Orthoschnapp 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+).