ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: St. George Defense

1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6

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

3. Bd3+0.68

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: St. George Defense (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Bd3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.68).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.683. Bd3 d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O Ng6
  2. +0.643. Nc3 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nd7 6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. O-O c5
  3. +0.623. c3 d5 4. e5 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O cxd4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: St. George Defense?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Bd3 for White, continuing d5 4. e5 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O Ng6. White is slightly better (+0.68). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.64) and 3. c3 (+0.62).
Is the French Defense: St. George Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.68: 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: St. George Defense?
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+).