ECO C10 · French Defense

French Defense: Paulsen Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3

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

3… Nf6+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Paulsen Variation (C10), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.373… Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
  2. +0.433… dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 Nxe4 7. Bxe4 Nf6 8. Bd3
  3. +0.553… a6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. e5 Bd7 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Bb5 8. Qd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Paulsen Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black, continuing 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 3… dxe4 (+0.43) and 3… a6 (+0.55).
Is the French Defense: Paulsen 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: Paulsen Variation?
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+).