ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5

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

4. cxb5+0.73

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. cxb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.73).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.734. cxb5 Bb7 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. f3 axb5 8. Bd2 c6
  2. +0.704. Nf3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. cxb5 Bb4 8. bxa6 Nxd2
  3. +0.684. Nc3 b4 5. Nce2 c5 6. d5 d6 7. Ng3 a5 8. h4 Be7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. cxb5 for White, continuing Bb7 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. f3 axb5 8. Bd2 c6. White is slightly better (+0.73). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+0.70) and 4. Nc3 (+0.68).
Is the French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.73: 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, Sanky-George 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+).