ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Steinitz Attack

1. e4 e6 2. e5

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

2… c5−0.30

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Steinitz Attack (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… c5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.302… c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d6 5. exd6 Qxd6 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nbd2
  2. −0.202… d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. dxc5
  3. −0.102… Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. d4 Nf6 6. Bb5 O-O 7. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Steinitz Attack?
After 1. e4 e6 2. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… c5 for Black, continuing 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d6 5. exd6 Qxd6 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nbd2. Black is slightly better (−0.30). The next best moves are 2… d6 (−0.20) and 2… Nc6 (−0.10).
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.30: black 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: Steinitz Attack?
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+).