ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Perseus Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3

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

3… dxe4−0.80

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Perseus Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−0.80).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.803… dxe4 4. Ne5 Nd7 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. Be2 Bb4 7. Bd2 Bd6 8. Nc4
  2. +0.473… Bb4+ 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Bxb4 exf3 6. Qxf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Bc5
  3. +0.553… a6 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Bd7 6. a3 h5 7. Bd3 Bb5 8. Bxb5+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Perseus Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Ne5 Nd7 5. Nc3 Ngf6 6. Be2 Bb4 7. Bd2 Bd6 8. Nc4. Black is clearly better (−0.80). The next best moves are 3… Bb4+ (+0.47) and 3… a6 (+0.55).
Is the French Defense: Perseus Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.80: 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: Perseus 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+).